THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW 


Portrait  of"  Miss   Rehan   as    Katharine 


papers'  €bition 
THE 

TAMING  T°HFE  SHREW 

BY 

WILLIAM  SHAKESPEARE 

WITH  AN  INTRODUCTION  BY 

ADA  REHAN 

ILLUSTRATED 


NEW  YORK 

DOUBLEDAY,  PAGE  &  CO. 
1900 


COPYRIGHT,  1900,  BY 

DOUBLKDAY,    PACK    &    Co. 


93) 
if 


KATHARINE. 

"  A  woman  moved  is  like  a  fountain  troubled, 
Muddy,  ill-seeming,  thick,  bereft  of  beautyj 
And  while  it  is  so,  none  so  dry  or  thirsty 
Will  deign  to  sip  or  touch  one  drop  of  it." 

Katharine's  own  words  point  out  her  fine 
intelligence,  which  places  her  far  beyond 
the  common  acceptation  of  the  word 
"Shrew."  I  look  upon  her  as  a  grand 
creature — a  very  noble  nature — of  high 
breeding — a  spoiled,  wilful  child  who  had 
always  had  her  own  way  with  every  one. 
High-strung  and  nervous,  though  at  the 
same  time  strong  and  thoroughly  healthy, 
she  could  not  bear  a  shadow  of  contradic- 
tion. 

I  liked,  when  playing,  to  remember 
General  Sherman's  expression,  one  even- 
ing, after  having  seen  her — that  Katharine 
always  reminded  him  Cf  of  a  soldier  who 
had  had  victories  all  along  the  line  until 
she  had  at  last  met  her  master." 


vi  KATHARINE. 

No  one  knew  this  better  than  she  did. 
She  braced  herself  for  her  last  grand  fight, 
and  fought  it  with  vigor.  Being  defeated, 
like  a  true  soldier,  her  submission  was 
absolute,  and  she  acknowledged  her  con- 
queror as  frankly  as  she  had  defied  him. 

This  side  of  her  character  was  strongly 
brought  out  in  Mr.  Augustin  Daly's  ver- 
sion of  "  The  Taming  of  the  Shrew."  In 
his  beautiful  production  he  treated  the  play 
as  Shakespeare  intended,  $.s  a  high  classical 
comedy  in  five^acts,  beginning  with  the 
Induction,  which  had  never  before  been 
given  in  America.  He  believed  in  Kath- 
arine's high  qualities,  and  argued  that 
Bianca  was  the  real  "  Shrew."  Seemingly 
so  gentle  and  obedient,  almost  immedi- 
ately after  marriage  she  showed  her  true 
character,  arguing  and  disputing  with  her 
husband,  and  bringing  unhappiness  into 
her  wedded  life. 

It  has  been  thought  that  Katharine's 
submission  was  too  abject,  but  I  have 


INTRODUCTION. 


looked  upon  it  that  she  proportioned  her 
penance  to  her  offences ;  and  that,  having 
been  more  outrageous  in  temper  than 
mortal  woman  was  ever  known  to  be,  she 
adopted  more  humility  than  woman  need 
£yejr  show.  The  character  reveals,  in  fact, 
depths  and  heights  that  confound  and  dis- 
quiet us.  We  recognize  in  it  something 
more  than  human.  It  is  framed  in  heroic 
mould,  and  belongs  to  a  Titanic  age. 
Katharine  stands  like  the  sublime  concep- 
tion of  an  incarnate,  immortal  spirit:  a 
goddess-made  woman,who  in  the  infancy  of 
her  new  birth  rages  with  the  wildness  of 
the  tempest  that  plays  about  her  Olympian 
home,  and  then,  growing  to  the  conscious- 
ness of  earthly  weakness,  turns  the  whole 
divine  force  within  her  to  exemplifying 
the  perfection  of  human  obedience  and 
dependence. 

Under  Mr.  Daly's  masterly  direction, 
the  creation  of  such  a  role  as  Katharine, 
and  the  development  of  her  varying  moods, 


viii  KATHARINE. 

filled  me  with  delight.  After  playing  it 
for  thirteen  years,  during  which  Mr.  Daly 
watched  and  directed  almost  every  per- 
formance, it  was  a  great  pride  and  hap- 
piness to  me  that  never  for  one  moment 
did  he  suggest  any  change. 

Playing  Katharine  brought  me  much 
satisfaction,  but  a  very  bad  reputation .for 
temper.  I  have  often  been  amused  at 
seeing  the  effect  that  a  first  performance 
of  the  "  Shrew "  in  a  strange  place  pro- 
duced on  the  employes  of  the  stage.  They 
shunned  me  as  something  actually  to  be 
feared.  During  the  very  long  run,  I  have 
often  heard  it  said  that  I  hated  my 
"  Petruchio,"  and  that  our  stage  life  only 
reproduced  our  private  intercourse.  I 
looked  upon  this  as  the  greatest  compli- 
ment that  could  be  paid  me. 

I  found  Katharine  a  very  exhausting 
part  to  play.  Her  first  entry  demands 
a  height  of  passion,  which  in  most  other 
plays  would  be  the  climax  of  an  evening's 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

work.  This  force  has  to  be  sustained 
throughout  two  acts ;  indeed,  almost  to 
the  end  of  the  play. 

We  believed  that  Katharine's  real  sub- 
mission began  on  the  journey  when^jshe 
felt  the  magnetic  force  of  a  conqueror, 
although  this  is  the  last  thing  she  would 
have  allowed  even  to  herself.  A  little 
starvation,  and  want  of  sleep,  causing 
physical  weakness,  make  her  battle  all  the 
harder.  After  a  few  more  thwartings  and 
contradictions,  he  proves  to  her  by  his 
beautiful  argument : 

"  Our  purses  shall  be  proud,  our  garments  poor  j 
For  '  tis  the  mind  that  makes  the  body  rich  j 
And  as  the  sun  breaks  through  the  darkest  clouds, 
So  honour  peereth  in  the  meanest  habit. 
What!  is  the  jay  more  precious  than  the  lark, 
Because  his  feathers  are  more  beautiful  ?     . 
O,  no,  good  Kate  ;  neither  art  thou  the  worse 
For  this  poor  furniture  and  mean  array. 
If  thou  account' st  it  shame,  lay  it  on  me  ; 
And  therefore  frolic, " 

that  his  mental  qualities  are  as  com- 
manding as  his  physical  ones,  and  that  he 


KATHARINE. 


is  her  equal  in  mind  as  he  is  in  strength. 

From  that  moment  she  slowly  but  surely 

submits.     In  her  heart  she  feels  only  too 

/eager    to    go    home   to    her    father,    and 

"       acknowledge    her    willingness    to    accept 

Petruchio  as  her  lord  and  master. 

The  touches  of  human  nature  in  cc  The 
Taming  of  the  Shrew  "  account  for  its  ap- 
pealing so  strongly  to  the  public  on  both 
continents  for  over  tw'o  centuries.  Is  it 
not  a  test  of  Katharine's  being  a  really 
womanly  woman  that  her  own  sex  have 
enjoyed  and  understood  her  best?  It  is 
well  known  in  literature  that  the  more  a 
heroine  is  made  to  suffer,  the  greater  is 
her  triumph  with  her  public,  if,  as  Katha- 
rine does,  she  passes  through  fire,  and 
comes  out  pure  gold. 

For  this  opportunity  in  my  life  I  am 
indebted  to  the  late  Augustin  Daly,  whose 
great  managerial  instinct,  and  insight  into 
the  creative  power  of  those  who  came 
under  his  direction,  are  well  known. 


INTRODUCTION.  xi 

Nothing  prevented  him  from  advancing 
friend  and  foe  in  the  path  he  considered 
them  most  fitted  for,  his  sole  object  being 
to  secure  the  most  perfect  dramatic  result 
in  his  power,  and  to  give  pleasure  and 
enlightenment  to  his  vast  public. 

"  One  who  never  turned  his  back, 

But  marched  breast  forward  ; 

Never  doubted  clouds  would  break  ; 

Never  dreamed,  though  right  were  worsted, 
Wrong  would  triumph  ; 

Held  we  fall  to  rise,  are  baffled  to  fight  better, 
Sleep  to  wake." 

ADA  REHAN. 


NEW  YORK,  Jan.  13,  1900. 


LIST    OF   ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Portrait  of  Miss  Rehan  as  Katharine,      Frontispiece 
Miss  Rehan  as  Katharine,    .        .        .        .        .      57 

44  Never  to  man  shall  Katharine  give  her  hand," — Act  II. 

Mr.  Drew  as  Petruchio,       .        .        *        ,        .     79 

44 1  will  be  master  of  what  is  mine  own." — Act  III. 

Katharine's  Wedding  Day,  .        .        .....      87 


4  Fear  not,  sweet  wench,  they  shall  not  touch  thee,  Kate  : 
I'll  buckler  thee  against  a  million."— Act  III. 


Mrs.  Gilbert  as  Curtis, 


97 


The  Real  Vincentio  and  the  Mock  Vincentio,    131 

"  What,  my  old  worshipful  old  master  ? 
Yet,  marry,  sir  :  see  where  he  looks  out  of  the  window." 

—Act  V.,  Scene  I. 

Lucentio's  Banquet,       ....       v       .    137 

14  At  last,  though  long,  our  jarring  notes  agree." 

—Act  V.,  Scene  II. 

Final  Tableaux, 145 


CAST 

OF  AUGUSTIN  DALY'S    PRODUCTION   OF 

THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW 

i  887 

A  LORD Mr.  GEORGE  CLARKE 

CHRISTOPHER  SLY,  a  tinker Mr.  WILLIAM  GILBERT 

A  PAGE,  representing  a    lady Master  WILL  COLLIER 

A  HUNTSMAN Mr.  THOMAS    PATTEN 

(Mi.  BOND 


PLAYERS 

WOOD 


f  Mr. 
"(Mr. 

TWO   SERVANTS Messrs.  IRETON  and    MURPHY 

THE    HOSTESS Miss  SYLVIE 

IN  THE  PLAT  PERFORMED: 

BAPTISTA,  a  rich  gentleman  of  Padua Mr.  CHARLES  FISHER 

VINCENTIO,  an  old  gentleman  of  Pisa Mr.  JOHN  MOORE 

A  PEDANT,  misrepresenting  Vincentio Mr.  JOHN    WOOD 

LUCENTIO,  son  to  Vincentio,  in  love  with  Bianca...Mr.  OTIS  SKINNER 

PETRUCHIO Mr.  JOHN    DREW 

A  gentleman  of  Verona,  suitor  to  Katharine. 

GREMIO,  a»  old  gentleman Mr.  CHARLES  LsCLERQ 

HORTENSIO,  ayoung  gentleman Mr.  JOSEPH  HOLLAND 

Suitors  to  Bianca. 

TRANIO,          »  0  (Mr.  FREDERICK  BOND 

(.  Servants  to    Lucentio J 

BIONDELLO,  f  {  Mr.  E.  P.  WILKS 

GRUMIO,  Petruchio' s  serving-man ..Mr.  JAMES  LEWIS 

NATHANIEL,).  (  Mr.  IRETON 

'  I  Servants  to  Petruchio J 

PHILIP,  f  I  Mr.  HAMILTON 

A  TAILOR Mr.   GEORGE   PARKS 

KATHARINE,  daughter  to  Baftista Miss    ADA  REHAN 

BIANCA,  daughter  to  Baftista Miss  VIRGINIA  DREHER 

CURTIS,  servant  to  Petruchio Mrs.  G.  H.  GILBERT 

A  WIDOW,  who  marries  Hortensio Miss  JEAN  GORDON 


DRAMATIS    PERSONS 

A  Lord, 

^  o-i  I  Persons  in  the 

CHRISTOPHER  SLY,   a  tinker, 


{Persons  In  tht. 
Induction. 
9 


Hostess,   Page,  Players,  Huntsmen,   and  Servan 

BAPTISTA,  a  rich  gentleman  of  Padua. 

VINCENTIO,  an  old  gentleman  of  Pisa. 

LUCENTIO,  son  to  Vincentio,  In  love  'with  Bianca. 

PETRUCHIO,  a  gentleman  of  Verona,  a  suitor  to  Katharina. 

GREMIO, 

HORTENSIO, 

TRANIO.        )  T 

>•  servants  to  Lucentio. 

BlONDELLO,    ) 

GRUIV 

CURTIS 
A  Pedant. 


'         V  suitors  to  Bianca. 

NSIO,    ) 


UMIO.    )  -,  .. 

7  V  servants  to  Petruchio. 

ilTIS,      ) 

Pedant. 

KATHARINA.    the   shrew.  )    ,       .  _ 

Y  daughters  to  Bapttsta. 
BIANCA,  } 


Widow. 


Tailor,  Haberdasher,  and  Servants  attending  on  Baptista 
and  Petruchio. 

SCENE  :  Padua ,  and  Petruchio's  country  house. 


THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW 


The    Taming    of  the    Shrew. 


INDUCTION. 
SCENE  I. 

Before  an  alehouse  on  a  heath. 
Enter  Hostess  and  Sly. 

Sly.  I'll  pheeze  you,  in  faith. 

Host.  A  pair  of  stocks,  you  rogue ! 

Sly.  Y'  are  a  baggage :  the  Slys  are  no  rogues ; 

look  in  the  chronicles;    we  came  in 

with  Richard  Conqueror.     Therefore 

paucas  pallabris ;  let  the  world  slide : 

sessa ! 
Host.  You  will  not  pay  for  the  glasses  you 

have  burst  ? 
Sly.  No,  not  a  denier.     Go  by,  Jeronimy :   go 

to  thy  cold  bed,  and  warm  thee. 
Host.  I  know  my  remedy ;  I  must  go  fetch  the 

thirdborough.  \Exit. 

Sly.  Third,  or  fourth,  or  fifth  borough,   I'll 

answer  him  by  law :    I'll  not  budge 


4  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Induction, 

an    inch,    boy:     let   him    come,   and 
kindly.  [Falls  asleep. 

Horns  winded.     Enter  a  Lord  from  hunting, 
with  his  train. 

Lord.  Huntsman,  I  charge  thee,  tender  well 

my  hounds: 
Brach   Merriman,  the  poor  cur   is   em- 

boss'd ; 
And    couple    Clowder    with    the    deep- 

mouth'd  brach. 
Saw'st  thou  not,  boy,  how  Silver  made  it 

good 

At  the  hedge-corner,  in  the  coldest  fault? 
I    would   not   lose    the    dog   for   twenty 

pound. 
First  Him.  Why,  Belman  is  as  good  as  he,  my 

lord; 

He  cried  upon  it  at  the  merest  loss, 
And  twice  to-day  pick'd  out  the  dullest 

scent : 

Trust  me,  I  take  him  for  the  better  dog. 
Lord.  Thou  art  a  fool :   if  Echo  were  as  fleet, 
I  would  esteem  him  worth  a  dozen  such. 
But  sup  them  well  and  look  unto  them  all : 
To-morrow  I  intend  to  hunt  again. 
First  Hun.  I  will,  my  lord. 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  5 

Lor d.  What's  here  ?  one  dead,  or  drunk  ?    See, 

doth  he  breathe? 
Sec.  Hun.  He  breathes,  my  lord.     Were  he  not 

warm'd  with  ale, 
This  were  a  bed  but  cold  to  sleep   so 

soundly. 
Lord.  O  monstrous  beast !  how  like  a  swine  he 

lies! 
Grim  death,  how  foul  and  loathsome  is 

thine  image! 

Sirs,  I  will  practise  on  this  drunken  man. 
What  think  you,  if  he  were  conveyed  to 

bed, 
Wrapp'd  in  sweet  clothes,  rings  put  upon 

his  fingers, 

A  most  delicious  banquet  by  his  bed, 
And  brave  attendants  near  him  when  he 

wakes, 

Would  not  the  beggar  then  forget  him- 
self? 
First  Hun.  Believe  me,  lord,  I  think  he  cannot 

choose. 
Sec.  Hun.  It  would  seem  strange  unto  him 

when  he  waked. 
Lord.  Even  as  a  flattering  dream  or  worthless 

fancy. 

Then  take  him  up  and  manage  well  the 
jest : 


THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Induction. 

Carry  him  gently  to  my  fairest  chamber 
And  hang  it  round  with  all  my  wanton 

pictures : 
Balm   his    foul   head   in   warm    distilled 

waters 
And  burn  sweet  wood  to  make  the  lodging 

sweet : 

Procure  me  music  ready  when  he  wakes, 
To  make  a  dulcet  and  a  heavenly  sound ; 
And  if  he  chance  to  speak,  be  ready 

straight 

And  with  a  low  submissive  reverence 
Say  '  What  is  it  your  honour  will  com- 
mand ? ' 

Let  one  attend  him  with  a  silver  basin 
Full  of  rose-water  and  bestrew'd   with 

flowers ; 

Another  bear  the  ewer,  the  third  a  diaper, 
And  say  '  Will't  please  your  lordship  cool 

your  hands  ? ' 

Some  one  be  ready  with  a  costly  suit, 
And  ask  him  what  apparel  he  will  wear ; 
Another  tell  him  of  his  hounds  and  horse, 
And  that  his  lady  mourns  at  his  disease : 
Persuade  him  that  he  hath  been  lunatic ; 
And  when  he  says  he  is,   say  that  he 

dreams, 


Scene  I       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  7 

For  he  is  nothing  but  a  mighty  lord. 
This  do  and  do  it  kindly,  gentle  sirs : 
It  will  be  pastime  passing  excellent, 
If  it  be  husbanded  with  modesty. 
First  Hun.  My  lord,  I  warrant  you  we  will 

play  our  part, 

As  he  shall  think  by  our  true  diligence 

He  is  no  less  than  what  we  say  he  is. 

Lord.  Take  him  up  gently  and  to  bed  with 

him; 

And  each  one  to  his  office  when  he  wakes. 
[Some  bear  out  Sly.    A  trumpet  sounds. 
Sirrah,   go    see   what   trumpet    'tis   that 
sounds : 

[Exit  Servingman. 

Belike,  some  noble  gentleman  that  means, 
Travelling  some  journey,  to  repose  him 
here. 

Re-enter  Servingman. 

How  now !  who  is  it  ? 
Serv.  An  't  please  your  honour,  players 

That  offer  service  to  your  lordship. 
Lord.  Bid  them  come  near. 

Enter  Players. 
Now,  fellows,  you  are  welcome. 


8  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Induction. 

Players.  We  thank  your  honour. 

Lord.  Do  you  intend  to  stay  with  me  to-night  ? 

A  Player.  So  please  your  lordship  to  accept 

our  duty. 

Lord.  With  all  my  heart.     This  fellow  I  re- 
member, 

Since  once  he  play'd  a  farmer's  eldest  son : 
'Twas  where  you  woo'd  the  gentlewoman 

so  well : 
I  have  forgot  your  name ;   but,  sure,  that 

part 

Was  aptly  fitted  and  naturally  performed. 
TA  Player.  I  think  'twas  Soto  that  your  honour 

means. 

Lord.  'Tis  very  true :  thou  didst  it  excellent. 
Well,  you  are  come  to  me  in  happy  time ; 
The  rather  for  I  have  some  sport  in  hand 
Wherein  your  cunning  can  assist  me  much. 
There  is  a  lord  will  hear  you  play  to-night : 
But  I  am  doubtful  of  your  modesties ; 
Lest  over-eyeing  of  his  odd  behaviour, — 
For  yet  his  honour  never  heard  a  play, — 
You  break  into  some  merry  passion 
And  so  offend  him ;  for  I  tell  you,  sirs, 
If  you  should  smile  he  grows  impatient. 
A  Player.  Fear  not,  my  lord :  we  can  contain 
ourselves, 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  9 

Were  he  the  veriest  antic  in  the  world. 
Lord.  Go,  sirrah,  take  them  to  the  buttery, 

And  give  them   friendly  welcome  every 

one: 

Let  them  want  nothing  that  my  house 
affords. 

[Exit  one  with  the  Players. 
Sirrah,  go  you  to  Bartholomew  my  page, 
And  see  him  dress'd  in  all  suits  like  a  lady : 
That  done,  conduct  him  to  the  drunkard's 

chamber ; 

And  call  him  '  madam/  do  him  obeisance. 
Tell  him  from  me,  as  he  will  win  my  love, 
He  bear  himself  with  honourable  action, 
Such  as  he  hath  observed  in  noble  ladies 
Unto  their  lords,  by  them  accomplished : 
Such  duty  to  the  drunkard  let  him  do 
With  soft  low  tongue  and  lowly  courtesy, 
And  say,   '  What   is't  your  honour  will 

command, 

Wherein  your  lady  and  your  humble  wife 
May  show  her  duty  and  make  known  her 

love?' 

And  then  with  kind  embracements,  tempt- 
ing kisses, 

And  with  declining  head  into  his  bosom, 
Bid  him  shed  tears,  as  being  overjoy'd 


10  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Induction. 

To  see  her  noble  lord  restored  to  health, 
Who  for  this  seven  years  hath  esteemed 

him 

No  better  than  a  poor  and  loathsome  beg- 
gar: 

And  if  the  boy  have  not  a  woman's  gift 
To  rain  a  shower  of  commanded  tears, 
An  onion  will  do  well  for  such  a  shift, 
Which  in  a  napkin  being  close  convey'd 
Shall  in  despite  enforce  a  watery  eye. 
See  this  dispatched  with  all  the  haste  thou 

canst : 
Anon  I'll  give  thee  more  instructions. 

[Exit  a  Servingman. 
I  know  the  boy  will  well  usurp  the  grace, 
Voice,  gait  and  action  of  a  gentlewoman  : 
I  long  to  hear  him  call  the  drunkard  hus- 
band, 
And  how  my  men  will  stay  themselves 

from  laughter 
When   they   do   homage   to   this    simple 

peasant. 

I'll  in  to  counsel  them;    haply  my  pres- 
ence 

May  well  abate  the  over-merry  spleen 
Which  otherwise  would  grow  into  ex- 
tremes. [Exeunt. 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  II 

SCENE  II. 
rA  bedchamber  in  the  Lord's  house. 

Enter  aloft  Sly,  with  Attendants;  some  with 
apparel,  others  with  basin  and  ewer  and 
other  appurtenances,  and  Lord. 

Sly.  For  God's  sake,  a  pot  of  small  ale. 

First  Serv.  Will 't  please  your  lordship  drink  a 

cup  of  sack  ? 
Sec.  Serv.  Will  't  please  your  honour  taste  of 

these  conserves  ? 
Third  Serv.  What  raiment  will  your  honour 

wear  to-day  ? 

Sly.  I  am  Christophero  Sly;  call  not  me 
'  honour  '  nor  '  lordship  ' :  I  ne'er  drank 
sack  in  my  life;  and  if  you  give  me  any 
conserves,  give  me  conserves  of  beef: 
ne'er  ask  me  what  raiment  I'll  wear ;  for 
I  have  no  more  doublets  than  backs,  no 
more  stockings  than  legs,  nor  no  more 
shoes  than  feet ;  nay,  sometime  more  feet 
than  shoes,  or  such  shoes  as  my  toes  look 
through  the  overleather. 
Lord.  Heaven  cease  this  idle  humour  in  your 
honour ! 


1 2  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Induction. 

O,  that  a  mighty  man  of  such  descent, 
Of  such  possessions  and  so  high  esteem, 
Should  be  infused  with  so  foul  a  spirit ! 

Sly.  What,  would  you  make  me  mad?  Am 
not  I  Christopher  Sly,  old  Sly's  son  of 
Burton-heath,  by  birth  a  pedlar,  by  educa- 
tion a  card-maker,  by  transmutation  a 
bear-herd,  and  now  by  present  profession 
a  tinker?  Ask  Marian  Hacket,  the  fat 
ale-wife  of  Wincot,  if  she  know  me  not: 
if  she  say  I  am  not  fourteen  pence  on  the 
score  for  sheer  ale,  score  me  up  for  the 
lyingest  knave  in  Christendom.  What! 
I  am  not  bestraught :  here's — 

Third  Serv.  O,  this  it  is  that  makes  your  lady 
mourn ! 

Sec.  Serv.  O,  this  is  it  that  makes  your  ser- 
vants droop! 

Lord.  Hence  comes  it  that  your  kindred  shuns 

your  house, 

As  beaten  hence  by  your  strange  lunacy. 
O  noble  lord,  bethink  thee  of  thy  birth, 
Call  home  thy  ancient  thoughts  from  ban- 
ishment, 
And    banish    hence    these    abject    lowly 

dreams. 
Look  how  thy  servants  do  attend  on  thee, 


Scene  ii,      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  13 

Each  in  his  office  ready  at  thy  beck. 
Wilt    thou    have    music?    hark!    Apollo 

plays,  [Music. 

And  twenty  caged  nightingales  do  sing: 
Or  wilt  thou  sleep?   we'll  have  thee  to  a 

couch 

Softer  and  sweeter  than  the  lustful  bed 
On  purpose  trimm'd  up  for  Semiramis. 
Say  thou  wilt  walk;  we  will  bestrew  the 

ground : 
Or  wilt  thou  ride?    thy  horses  shall  be 

trapped, 
Their  harness  studded  all  with  gold  and 

pearl. 
Dost  thou  love  hawking?  thou  hast  hawks 

will  soar 
Above  the  morning  lark:    or  wilt  thou 

hunt? 
Thy  hounds  shall  make  the  welkin  answer 

them, 
And  fetch  shrill  echoes  from  the  hollow 

earth. 

First  Serv.  Say  thou  wilt  course;    thy  grey- 
hounds are  as  swift 

As  breathed  stags,  ay,  fleeter  than  the  roe. 
Sec.  Serv.  Dost  thou  love  pictures?    we  will 

fetch  thee  straight 


14  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Induction. 

Adonis  painted  by  a  running  brook, 

And  Cytherea  all  in  sedges  hid, 

Which  seem  to  move  and  wanton  with  her 

breath, 

Even  as  the  waving  sedges  play  with  wind. 
Lord.  We'll  show  thee  lo  as  she  was  a  maid 
And  how  she  was  beguiled  and  surprised, 
As  lively  painted  as  the  deed  was  done. 
Third  Serv.  Or  Daphne  roaming  through  a 

thorny  wood, 
Scratching  her  legs  that  one  shall  swear 

she  bleeds, 

And  at  that  sight  shall  sad  Apollo  weep, 
So  workmanly  the  blood  and  tears  are 

drawn. 

'Lord.  Thou  art  a  lord  and  nothing  but  a  lord : 

Thou  hast  a  lady  far  more  beautiful 

Than  any  woman  in  this  waning  age. 

First  Serv.  And  till  the  tears  that  she  hath 

shed  for  thee 
Like  envious  floods  o'er-run  her  lovely 

face, 

She  was  the  fairest  creature  in  the  world  ; 
And  yet  she  is  inferior  to  none. 
Sly.  Am  I  a  lord  ?  and  have  I  such  a  lady  ? 
Or  do  I  dream?   or  have  I  dream'd  till 
now? 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  15 

I  do  not  sleep :  I  see,  I  hear,  I  speak ; 
I   smell   sweet   savours   and   I   feel   soft 

things : 

Upon  my  life,  I  am  a  lord  indeed, 
And  not  a  tinker  nor  Christophero  Sly. 
Well,  bring  our  lady  hither  to  our  sight ; 
And  once  again,  a  pot  o'  the  smallest  ale. 
Sec.  Serv.  Will't  please  your  mightiness  to 

wash  your  hands? 

O,  how  we  joy  to  see  your  wit  restored ! 
O,  that  once  more  you  knew  but  what  you 

are! 
These  fifteen  years  you  have  been  in  a 

dream ; 
Or  when  you  waked,  so  waked  as  if  you 

slept. 
Sly.  These  fifteen  years !  by  my  fay,  a  goodly 

nap. 

But  did  I  never  speak  of  all  that  time  ? 
First  Serv.  O,   yes,   my   lord,   but  very   idle 

words : 
For  though  you  lay  here  in  this  goodly 

chamber, 
Yet  would  you  say  ye  were  beaten  out  of 

door; 

And  rail  upon  the  hostess  of  the  house ; 
And  say  you  would  present  her  at  the  leet, 


1 6  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Induction. 

Because  she  brought  stone  jugs  and  no 

seal'd  quarts : 
Sometimes  you  would  call  out  for  Cicely 

Hacket. 

Sly.  Ay,  the  woman's  maid  of  the  house. 
Third  Serv.  Why,  sir,  you  know  no  house  nor 

no  such  maid, 

Nor  no  such  men  as  you  have  reckon'd  up, 
As  Stephen  Sly  and  old  John  Naps  of 

Greece 

And  Peter  Turph  and  Henry  Pimpernell 
And  twenty  more  such  names  and  men  as 

these 

Which  never  were  nor  no  man  ever  saw. 
Sly.  Now    Lord    be    thanked    for    my    good 

amends ! 
All.  Amen. 
Sly.  I  thank  thee :  thou  shalt  not  lose  by  it. 

Enter  the  Page  as  a  lady,  attended. 
Page.  How  fares  my  noble  lord  ? 
Sly.  Marry,  I  fare  well;    for  here  is  cheer 

enough. 

Where  is  my  wife? 
Page.  Here,  noble  lord :  what  is  thy  will  with 

her? 

Sly.  Are  you  my  wife  and  will  not  call  me  hus- 
band? 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  17 

My  men  should  call  me  '  lord  ' :  I  am  your 

goodman. 
Page.  My  husband  and  my  lord,  my  lord  and 

husband ; 

I  am  your  wife  in  all  obedience. 
Sly.  I  know  it  well.     What  must  I  call  her  ? 
Lord.  Madam. 

Sly.  Al'ce  madam,  or  Joan  madam? 
Lord.  '  Madam/  and  nothing1  else :    so  lords 

call  ladies. 

Sly.  Madam  wife,  they  say  that  I  have  dream'd 
And   slept   above    some   fifteen   year   or 

more. 

Page.  Ay,  and  the  time  seems  thirty  unto  me, 
Being  all  this  time  abandon'd  from  your 

bed. 
Sly.  'Tis  much.     Servants,  leave  me  and  her 

alone. 

Madam,  undress  you  and  come  now  to  bed. 
Page.  Thrice-noble  lord,  let  me  entreat  of  you 
To  pardon  me  yet  for  a  night  or  two ; 
Or,  if  not  so,  until  the  sun  be  set : 
For     your     physicians     have     expressly 

charged, 

In  peril  to  incur  your  former  malady, 
That  I  should  yet  absent  me  from  your 
bed: 


1 8  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Induction. 

I  hope  this  reason  stands  for  my  excuse. 
Sly.  Ay,  it  stands  so  that  I  may  hardly  tarry  so 
long.     But  I  would  be  loath  to  fall  into 
my  dreams  again:    I  will  therefore  tarry 
in  despite  of  the  flesh  and  the  blood. 

Enter  a  Messenger. 

Mess.  Your  honour's  players,   hearing  your 

amendment, 

Are  come  to  play  a  pleasant  comedy ; 
For  so  your  doctors  hold  it  very  meet, 
Seeing  too  much  sadness  hath  congeal'd 

your  blood, 

And  melancholy  is  the  nurse  of  frenzy : 
Therefore  they  thought  it  good  you  hear 

a  play 

And  frame  your  mind  to  mirth  and  merri- 
ment, 

Which  bars  a  thousand  harms  and  length- 
ens life. 

Sly.  Marry,  I  will,  let  them  play  it.     Is  not  a 
comonty  a  Christmas  gambold  or  a  tum- 
bling-trick ? 
Page.  No,  my  good  lord ;   it  is  more  pleasing 

stuff. 

Sly.  What,  household  stuff? 
Page.  It  is  a  kind  of  history. 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  19 

Sly.  Well,  we'll  see 't.  Come,  madam  wife, 
sit  by  my  side  and  let  the  world  slip :  we 
shall  ne'er  be  younger. 

Flourish. 


ACT   FIRST. 
SCENE  I. 

Padua.    A  public  place. 
Enter  Lucentio  and  his  man  Tranio. 

Luc.  Tranio,  since  for  the  great  desire  I  had 
To  see  fair  Padua,  nursery  of  arts, 
I  am  arrived  for  fruitful  Lombardy, 
The  pleasant  garden  of  great  Italy ; 
And  by  my  father's  love  and  leave  am 

arm'd 

With  his  good  will  and  thy  good  company, 
My  trusty  servant,  well  approved  in  all, 
Here  let  us  breathe  and  haply  institute 
A    course    of    learning    and    ingenious 

studies. 

Pisa  renowned  for  grave  citizens 
Gave  me  my  being  and  my  father  first, 
A  merchant  of  great  traffic  through  the 

world, 


20  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.          Act  I. 

Vincentio,  come  of  the  Bentivolii. 
Vincentio's  son  brought  up  in  Florence 
It  shall  become  to  serve  all  hopes  con- 
ceived, 
To  deck  his   fortune  with  his  virtuous 

deeds : 
And  therefore,   Tranio,   for  the  time   I 

study, 

Virtue  and  that  part  of  philosophy 
Will  I  apply  that  treats  of  happiness 
By  virtue  specially  to  be  achieved. 
Tell  me  thy  mind ;  for  I  have  Pisa  left 
And  am  to  Padua  come,  as  he  that  leaves 
A  shallow  plash  to  plunge  him  in  the  deep, 
And   with   satiety   seeks   to   quench   his 

thirst. 

Tra.  Mi  perdonato,  gentle  master  mine, 
I  am  in  all  affected  as  yourself; 
Glad  that  you  thus  continue  your  resolve 
To  suck  the  sweets  of  sweet  philosophy. 
Only,  good  master,  while  we  do  admire 
This  virtue  and  this  moral  discipline, 
Let's  be  no  stoics  nor  no  stocks,  I  pray ; 
Or  so  devote  to  Aristotle's  checks 
As  Ovid  be  an  outcast  quite  abjured : 
Balk   logic   with   acquaintance   that   you 
have, 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  21 

And  practise  rhetoric  in  your  common 

talk; 

Music  and  poesy  use  to  quicken  you ; 
The  mathematics  and  the  metaphysics, 
Fall  to  them  as  you  find  your  stomach 

serves  you. 
No  profit  grows  where  is  no  pleasure 

ta'en : 

In  brief,  sir,  study  what  you  most  affect. 
Luc.  Gramercies,  Tranio,  well  dost  thou  ad- 
vise. 

If,  Biondello,  thou  wert  come  ashore, 
We  could  at  once  put  us  in  readiness, 
And  take  a  lodging  fit  to  entertain 
Such  friends  as  time  in  Padua  shall  beget. 
But  stay  a  while :  what  company  is  this  ? 
Tra.     Master,  some  show  to  welcome  us  to 
town. 

Enter  Baptista,  Katharine,  Bianca,   Gremio, 
and  Hortensio. 

Lucentio  and  Tranio  stand  by. 

Bap.  Gentlemen,  importune  me  no  farther, 
For  how  I  firmly  am  resolved  you  know ; 
That    is,    not    to    bestow    my    youngest 
daughter 


22  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW,          Act  I. 

Before  I  have  a  husband  for  the  elder : 
If  either  of  you  both  love  Katharina, 
Because  I  know  you  well  and  love  you 

well, 
Leave  shall  you  have  to  court  her  at  your 

pleasure. 
Gre.    [Aside}  To  cart  her  rather:    she's  too 

rough  for  me. 
There,   there,    Hortensio,    will   you    any 

wife? 
Kath.  I  pray  you,  sir,  is  it  your  will 

To  make  a  stale  of  me  amongst  these 

mates  ? 
Hor.  Mates,  maid!   how  mean  you  that?   no 

mates  for  you, 

Unless  you  were  of  gentler,  milder  mould. 
Kath.  r  faith,  sir,  you  shall  never  need  to  fear : 
I  wis  it  is  not  half  way  to  her  heart ; 
But  if  it  were,  doubt  not  her  care  should 

be 
To  comb  your  noddle  with  a  three-legg'd 

stool 
And  paint  your  face  and  use  you  like  a 

fool. 
'Hor.  From  all  such  devils,  good  Lord  deliver 

us! 
Gre.  And  me  too,  good  Lord ! 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  23 

Tra.  Husht,  master !  here's  some  good  pastime 
toward : 

That  wench  is  stark  mad  or  wonderful 

froward. 
Luc.  But  in  the  other's  silence  do  I  see 

Maid's  mild  behaviour  and  sobriety. 

Peace,  Tranio ! 
Tra.  Well  said,  master ;  mum !  and  gaze  your 

fill. 
'Bap,  Gentlemen,  that  I  may  soon  make  good 

What  I  have  said,  Bianca,  get  you  in : 

And  let  it  not  displease  thee,  good  Bianca, 

For  I  will  love  thee  ne'er  the  less,  my  girl. 
Kath.  A  pretty  peat !  it  is  best 

Put  finger  in  the  eye,  an  she  knew  why. 
'Bian.  Sister,  content  you  in  my  discontent. 

Sir,  to  your  pleasure  humbly  I  subscribe : 

My  books  and  instruments  shall  be  my 
company, 

On  them  to  look  and  practise  by  myself. 
^Luc.  Hark,  Tranio !  thou  may'st  hear  Minerva 

speak. 
]Hor.  Signior  Baptista,  will  you  be  so  strange  ? 

Sorry  am  I  that  our  good  will  effects 

Bianca's  grief. 
Gre.  Why  will  you  mew  her  up, 

Signior  Baptista,  for  this  fiend  of  hell, 


24  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

And  make  her  bear  the  penance  of  her 

tongue  ? 

Bap.  Gentlemen,  content  ye ;  I  am  resolved : 
Go  in,  Bianca :  [Exit  Bianca. 

And  for  I  know  she  taketh  most  delight 
In  music,  instruments  and  poetry, 
Schoolmasters    will    I    keep    within    my 

house, 
Fit  to  instruct  her  youth.     If  you,  Hor- 

tensio, 

Or  Signior  Gremio,  you,  know  any  such, 
Prefer  them  hither ;  for  to  cunning  men 
I  will  be  very  kind,  and  liberal 
To   mine   own   children   in   good   bring- 

ing-up : 
And  so  farewell.       Katharina,  you  may 

stay; 
For    I    have    more    to    commune    with 

Bianca.  [Exit. 

Kath.  Why,  and  I  trust  I  may  go  too,  may  I 

not?     What,  shall  I  be  appointed  hours; 

as  though,  belike,  I  knew  not  what  to  take, 

and  what  to  leave,  ha?  [Exit. 

Gre.  You  may  go  to  the  devil's  dam :    your 

gifts  are  so  good,  here's  none  will  hold 

you.     Their  love  is  not  so  great,  Hor- 

tensio,  but  we  may  blow  our  nails  together, 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  25 

and  fast  it  fairly  out :  our  cake's  dough  on 
both  sides.  Farewell :  yet,  for  the  love  I 
bear  my  sweet  Bianca,  if  I  can  by  any 
means  light  on  a  fit  man  to  teach  her  that 
wherein  she  delights,  I  will  wish  him  to 
her  father. 

'Hor.  So  will  I,  Signior  Gremio:  but  a  word, 
I  pray.  Though  the  nature  of  our  quar- 
rel yet  never  brooked  parle,  know  now, 
upon  advice,  it  toucheth  us  both,  that  we 
may  yet  again  have  access  to  our  fair 
mistress,  and  be  happy  rivals  in  Bianca's 
love,  to  labour  and  effect  one  thing 
specially. 

Gre.  What's  that,  I  pray? 

Hor.  Marry,  sir,  to  get  a  husband  for  her 
sister. 

Gre.  A  husband !  a  devil. 

Hor.  I  say,  a  husband. 

Gre.  I  say,  a  devil.  Thinkest  thou,  Hor- 
tensio,  though  her  father  be  very  rich,  any 
man  is  so  very  a  fool  to  be  married  to  hell  ? 

'Hor.  Tush,  Gremio,  though  it  pass  your  pa- 
tience and  mine  to  endure  her  loud 
alarums,  why,  man,  there  be  good  fellows 
in  the  world,  an  a  man  could  light  on 
them,  would  take  her  with  all  faults,  and 
money  enough. 


26  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

Gre.  I  cannot  tell ;  but  I  had  as  lief  take  her 
dowry  with  this  condition,  to  be  whipped 
at  the  high-cross  every  morning. 

Hor.  Faith,  as  you  say,  there's  small  choice  in 
rotten  apples.  But  come;  since  this  bar 
in  law  makes  us  friends,  it  shall  be  so  far 
forth  friendly  maintained  till  by  helping 
Baptista's  eldest  daughter  to  a  husband 
we  set  his  youngest  free  for  a  husband, 
and  then  have  to't  afresh.  Sweet  Bi- 
anca !  Happy  man  be  his  dole !  He  that 
runs  fastest  gets  the  ring.  How  say  you, 
Signior  Gremio? 

Gre.  I  am  agreed ;  and  would  I  had  given  him 
the  best  horse  in  Padua  to  begin  his 
wooing  that  would  thoroughly  woo  her, 
wed  her  and  bed  her  and  rid  the  house  of 
her !  Come  on. 

[Exeunt  Gremio  and  Hortensio. 

Tra.  I  pray,  sir,  tell  me,  is  it  possible 

That  love  should  of  a  sudden  take  such 
hold? 

Luc.  O  Tranio,  till  I  found  it  to  be  true, 
I  never  thought  it  possible  or  likely ; 
But  see,  while  idly  I  stood  looking  on, 
I  found  the  effect  of  love  in  idleness : 


Scene i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  27 

And  now  in  plainness  do  confess  to  thee, 
That  art  to  me  as  secret  and  as  dear 
As  Anna  to  the  Queen  of  Carthage  was, 
Tranio,  I  burnr  I  pine,  I  perish,  Tranio, 
If  I  achieve  not  this  young  modest  girl. 
Counsel   me,   Tranio,   for   I   know   thou 

canst ; 

Assist  me,  Tranio,  for  I  know  thou  wilt. 
Tra.  Master,  it  is  no  time  to  chide  you  now ; 
Affection  is  not  rated  from  the  heart : 
If  love  have  touch'd  you,  nought  remains 

but  so, 

'  Redime  te  captum  quam  queas  minimo.' 
'Luc.  Gramercies,  lad,  go  forward;    this  con- 
tents : 
The  rest  will  comfort,  for  thy  counsel's 

sound. 

Tra.  Master,  you  look'd  so  longly  on  the  maid, 
Perhaps  you  mark'd  not  what's  the  pith 

of  all. 

Luc.  O  yes,  I  saw  sweet  beauty  in  her  face, 
Such  as  the  daughter  of  Agenor  had, 
That  made  great  Jove  to  humble  him  to 

her  hand, 
When  with  his  knees  he  kiss'd  the  Cretan 

strand. 
Tra.  Saw  you  no  more  ?  mark'd  you  not  how 

her  sister 


28  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

Began  to  scold  and  raise  up  such  a  storm 
That  mortal  ears  might  hardly  endure  the 

din? 
Luc.  Tranio,  I  saw  her  coral  lips  to  move 

And  with  her  breath  she  did  perfume  the 

air: 

Sacred  and  sweet  was  all  I  saw  in  her. 
Tra.  Nay,  then,  'tis  time  to  stir  him  from  his 

trance. 

I  pray,  awake,  sir:   if  you  love  the  maid, 
Bend  thoughts  and  wits  to  achieve  her. 

Thus  it  stands : 

Her  elder  sister  is  so  curst  and  shrewd 
That  till  the  father  rid  his  hands  of  her, 
Master,  your  love  must  live  a  maid  at 

home; 
And  therefore  has  he  closely  mew'd  her 

up, 
Because   she   will   not   be   annoy'd   with 

suitors. 

Luc.  Ah,  Tranio,  what  a  cruel  father's  he! 
But  art  thou  not  advised,  he  took  some 

care 

To  get  her  cunning  schoolmasters  to  in- 
struct her? 

Tra.  Ay,    marry,    am    I,    sir;    and   now   'tis 
plotted. 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  29 

Luc.  I  have  it,  Tranio. 

Tra.  Master,  for  my  hand, 

Both  our  inventions  meet  and  jump  in  one. 

Luc.  Tell  me  thine  first. 

Tra.  You  will  be  schoolmaster 

And  undertake  the  teaching  of  the  maid : 
That's  your  device. 

Luc.  It  is:    may  it  be  done? 

Tra.  Not  possible;    for  who  shall  bear  your 

part, 

And  be  in  Padua  here  Vincentio's  son ; 
Keep  house  and  ply  his  book,  welcome  his 

friends, 
Visit  his  countrymen  and  banquet  them  ? 

Luc.  Basta ;  content  thee,  for  I  have  it  full. 
We  have  not  yet  been  seen  in  any  house, 
Nor  can  we  be  distinguished  by  our  faces 
For  man  or  master ;   then  it  follows  thus : 
Thou  shalt  be  master,  Tranio,  in  my  stead, 
Keep  house  and  port  and  servants,  as  I 

should : 

I  will  some  other  be ;  some  Florentine, 
Some  Neapolitan,  or  meaner  man  of  Pisa. 
'Tis  hatch'd  and  shall  be  so:    Tranio,  at 

once 

Uncase  thee;    take  my  coloured  hat  and 
cloak : 


30  THE  TAMING  OF   THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

When  Biondello  comes,  he  waits  on  thee ; 
But  I  will  charm  him  first  to  keep  his 

tongue. 
Tra.  So  had  you  need. 

In  brief,  sir,  sith  it  your  pleasure  is, 

And  I  am  tied  to  be  obedient, 

For  so  your  father  charged  me  at  our 

parting; 

*  Be  serviceable  to  my  son/  quoth  he, 
Although  I  think  'twas  in  another  sense ; 
I  am  content  to  be  Lucentio, 
Because  so  well  I  love  Lucentio. 
Luc.  Tranio,  be  so,  because  Lucentio  loves : 
And  let  me  be  a  slave,  to  achieve  that  maid 
Whose    sudden    sight    hath    thrall'd    my 

wounded  eye. 
Here  comes  the  rogue. 

Enter  Biondello. 

Sirrah,  where  have  you  been? 

Bion.  Where  have  I  been!  Nay,  how  now! 
where  are  you?  Master,  has  my  fellow 
Tranio  stolen  your  clothes?  Or  you 
stolen  his?  or  both?  pray,  what's  the 
news? 

Luc.  Sirrah,  come  hither:   'tis  no  time  to  jest, 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  $1 

And  therefore  frame  your  manners  to  the 

time. 

Your  fellow  Tranio  here,  to  save  my  life, 
Puts  my  apparel  and  my  countenance  on, 
And  I  for  my  escape  have  put  on  his ; 
For  in  a  quarrel  since  I  came  ashore 
I  kill'd  a  man  and  fear  I  was  descried : 
Wait  you  on  him,  I  charge  you,  as  be- 
comes, 
While  I  make  way  from  hence  to  save  my 

life: 

You  understand  me  ? 

Bion.  I,  sir !  ne'er  a  whit. 

Luc.  And  not  a  jot  of  Tranio  in  your  mouth : 

Tranio  is  changed  into  Lucentio. 
Bion.  The  better  for  him :  would  I  were  so  too ! 
Tra.  So  could  I,  faith,  boy,  to  have  the  next 

wish  after, 
That    Lucentio    indeed    had    Baptista's 

youngest  daughter. 
But,  sirrah,  not  for  my  sake,  but  your 

master's  I  advise 
You  use  your  manners  discreetly  in  all 

kind  of  companies : 

When  I  am  alone,  why,  then  I  am  Tranio ; 
But    in    all     places    else    your    master 

Lucentio. 


32  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

Luc.  Tranio,  let's  go:  one  thing  more  rests, 
that  thyself  execute,  to  make  one  among 
these  wooers:  if  thou  ask  me  why,  suf- 
ficeth,  my  reasons  are  both  good  and 
weighty.  [Exeunt. 

The  presenters  above  speak. 

First  Serv.  My  lord,  you  nod;  you  do  not 
mind  the  play. 

Sly.  Yes,  by  Saint  Anne,  do  I.  A  good  mat- 
ter, surely :  comes  there  any  more  of  it  ? 

Page.  My  lord,  'tis  but  begun. 

Sly.  'Tis  a  very  excellent  piece  of  work, 
madam  lady :  would  't  were  done ! 

[They  sit  and  mark. 


SCENE  II. 

Padua.     Before  Hortensio's  house. 
Enter  Petruchio  and  his  man  Grumio. 

Pet.  Verona,  for  a  while  I  take  my  leave, 
To  see  my  friends  in  Padua,  but  of  all 
My  best  beloved  and  approved  friend, 
Hortensio ;  and  I  trow  this  is  his  house. 
Here,  sirrah  Grumio ;  knock,  I  say. 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  33 

Gru.  Knock,  sir!    whom  should  I  knock?   is 
there  any  man  has  rebused  you  worship? 
Pet.  Villain,  I  say,  knock  me  here  soundly. 
Gru.  Knock  you  here,  sir !  why,  sir,  what  am 

I,  sir,  that  I  should  knock  you  here,  sir  ? 
Pet.  Villain,  I  say,  knock  me  at  this  gate 

And   rap   me   well,   or   I'll   knock   your 

knave's  pate. 
Gru.  My  master  is  grown  quarrelsome.       I 

should  knock  you  first, 
And  then  I  know  after  who  comes  by  the 

worst. 
Pet.  Will  it  not  be? 

Faith,   sirrah,  an  you'll  not  knock,   I'll 

ring  it; 
I'll  try  how  you  can  sol,  fa,  and  sing  it. 

[He  wrings  him  by  the  ears. 
Gru.  Help,  masters,  help !  my  master  is  mad. 
Pet.  Now,  knock  when  I  bid  you,  sirrah  vil- 
lain! 

Enter  Hortensio. 

HOT.  How  now !  what's  the  matter  ?  My  old 
friend  Grumio!  and  my  good  friend  Pe- 
truchio !  How  do  you  all  at  Verona  ? 

Pet.  Signior  Hortensio,  come  you  to  part  the 
fray? 


34  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

*  Con  tutto  il  cuore  ben  trovato/  may  I  say. 

Hor.  '  Alia    nostra   casa    ben    venuto,    molto 
honorato  signor  mio  Petruchio/ 
Rise,  Grumio,  rise :  we  will  compound  this 
quarrel. 

Gru.  Nay,  'tis  no  matter,  sir,  what  he  'leges  in 
Latin.  If  this  be  not  a  lawful  cause  for 
me  to  leave  his  service,  look  you,  sir,  he 
bid  me  knock  him  and  rap  him  soundly, 
sir:  well,  was  it  fit  for  a  servant  to  use 
his  master  so,  being  perhaps,  for  aught  I 
see,  two-and-thirty,  a  pip  out  ? 
Whom  would  to  God  I  had  well  knock'd 

at  first, 
Then  had  not  Grumio  come  by  the  worst. 

Pet.  A  senseless  villain !     Good  Hortensio, 
I  bade  the  rascal  knock  upon  your  gate 
And  could  not  get  him  for  my  heart  to 
doit. 

Gru.  Knock  at  the  gate !  O  heavens !  Spake 
you  not  these  words  plain,  '  Sirrah,  knock 
me  here,  rap  me  here,  knock  me  well,  and 
knock  me  soundly  '  ?  And  come  you  now 
with,  '  knocking  at  the  gate  '  ? 

Pet.  Sirrah,  be  gone,  or  talk  not,  I  advise  you. 

Hor.  Petruchio,    patience;     I    am    Grumio's 
pledge: 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  35 

Why,  this  's  a  heavy  chance  'twixt  him 

and  you, 
Your    ancient,    trusty,    pleasant    servant 

Grumio. 
And  tell  me  now,  sweet  friend,  what  happy 

gale 
Blows    you    to    Padua    here    from    old 

Verona  ? 
Pet.  Such  wind  as  scatters  young  men  through 

the  world, 
To  seek  their   fortunes   farther  than  at 

home, 
Where  small  experience  grows.     But  in  a 

few, 

Signior  Hortensio,  thus  it  stands  with  me : 
Antonio,  my  father,  is  deceased ; 
And  I  have  thrust  myself  into  this  maze, 
Haply  to  wive  and  thrive  as  best  I  may : 
Crowns  in  my  purse  I  have  and  goods  at 

home, 

And  so  am  come  abroad  to  see  the  world. 
Hor.  Petruchio,  shall  I  then  come  roundly  to 

thee, 
And  wish  thee  to  a  shrewd  ill-favourd 

wife? 
Thou  'Idst  thank  me  but  a  little  for  my 

counsel : 


36  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

And  yet  I'll  promise  thee  she  shall  be  rich, 
And  very  rich :  but  thou  'rt  too  much  my 

friend, 

And  I'll  not  wish  thee  to  her. 
Pet.  Signior  Hortensio,  'twixt  such  friends  as 

we 
Few  words  suffice;  and  therefore,  if  thou 

know 

One  rich  enough  to  be  Petruchio's  wife, 
As  wealth  is  burden  of  my  wooing  dance, 
Be  she  as  foul  as  was  Florentius'  love, 
As  old  as  Sibyl,  and  as  curst  and  shrewd 
As  Socrates'  Xanthippe,  or  a  worse, 
She  moves  me  not,  or  not  removes,  at 

least, 

Affection's  edge  in  me,  were  she  as  rough 
As  are  the  swelling  Adriatic  seas : 
I  come  to  wive  it  wealthily  in  Padua ; 
If  wealthily,  then  happily  in  Padua. 
Gru.  Nay,  look  you,  sir,  he  tells  you  flatly  what 
his  mind  is:   why,  give  him  gold  enough 
and  marry  him  to  a  puppet  or  an  aglet- 
baby  ;  or  an  old  trot  with  ne'er  a  tooth  in 
her  head,  though  she  have  as  many  dis- 
eases as  two  and  fifty  horses :   why,  noth- 
ing comes  amiss,  so  money  comes  withal. 
'Hor.  Petruchio,    since   we    are    stepp'd    thus 

far  in, 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  37 

I  will  continue  that  I  broach'd  in  jest. 

I  can,  Petruchio,  help  thee  to  a  wife 

With  wealth  enough  and  young  and  beau- 
teous, 

Brought  up  as  best  becomes  a  gentle- 
woman : 

Her  only  fault,  and  that  is  faults  enough, 

Is  that  she  is  intolerable  curst 

And  shrewd  and  froward,  so  beyond  all 
measure, 

That,  were  my  state  far  worser  than  it  is, 

I  would  not  wed  her  for  a  mine  of  gold. 
Pet.  Hortensio,  peace !  thou  know'st  not  gold's 
effect : 

Tell  me  her  father's  name  and  'tis  enough ; 

For  I  will  board  her,  though  she  chide  as 
loud 

As  thunder  when  the  clouds  in  autumn 

crack. 
'Hor.  Her  father  is  Baptista  Minola, 

An  affable  and  courteous  gentleman : 

Her  name  is  Katharina  Minola, 

Renown'd    in    Padua    for    her    scolding 

tongue. 
Pet.  I  know  her  father,  though  I  know  not  her ; 

And  he  knew  my  deceased  father  well. 

I  will  not  sleep,  Hortensio,  till  I  see  her ; 


38  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

And  therefore  let  me  be  thus  bold  with  you 
To  give  you  over  at  this  first  encounter, 
Unless  you  will  accompany  me  thither. 

Gru.  I  pray  you,  sir,  let  him  go  while  the 
humour  lasts.  O'  my  word,  an  she  knew 
him  as  well  as  I  do,  she  would  think  scold- 
ing would  do  little  good  upon  him:  she 
may  perhaps  call  him  half  a  score  knaves 
or  so:  why,  that's  nothing;  an  he  begin 
once,  he'll  rail  in  his  rope-tricks.  I'll  tell 
you  what,  sir,  an  she  stand  him  but  a  little, 
he  will  throw  a  figure  in  her  face  and  so 
disfigure  her  with  it  that  she  shall  have  no 
more  eyes  to  see  withal  than  a  cat.  You 
know  him  not,  sir. 

Hor.  Tarry,  Petruchio,  I  must  go  with  thee ; 
For  in  Baptista's  keep  my  treasure  is : 
He  hath  the  jewel  of  my  life  in  hold, 
His  youngest  daughter,  beautiful  Bianca ; 
And  her  withholds  from  me  and  other 

more, 

Suitors  to  her  and  rivals  in  my  love ; 
Supposing  it  a  thing  impossible, 
For  those  defects  I  have  before  rehearsed, 
That  ever  Katharina  will  be  woo'd ; 
Therefore  this  order  hath  Baptista  ta'en, 
That  none  shall  have  access  unto  Bianca 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  39 

Till  Katharine  the  curst  have  got  a  hus- 
band. 

Gr u.  Katharine  the  curst ! 

A  title  for  a  maid  of  all  titles  the  worst. 

Hor.  Now  shall  my  friend  Petruchio  do  me 

grace ; 

And  offer  me  disguised  in  sober  robes 
To  old  Baptista  as  a  schoolmaster 
Well  seen  in  music,  to  instruct  Bianca ; 
That  so  I  may,  by  this  device,  at  least 
Have  leave  and  leisure  to  make  love  to  her, 
And  unsuspected  court  her  by  herself. 

Gru.  Here's  no  knavery !  See,  to  beguile  the 
old  folks,  how  the  young  folks  lay  their 
heads  together ! 

Enter  Gremio  and  Lucentio  disguised. 

Master,  master,  look  about  you :  who  goes 

there,  ha? 
Hor.  Peace,  Grumio!    it  is  the  rival  of  my 

love. 

Petruchio,  stand  by  a  while. 
Gru.  A  proper  stripling  and  an  amorous! 
Gre.  O,  very  well ;  I  have  perused  the  note. 
Hark  you,  sir ;  I'll  have  them  very  fairly 
bound : 


40  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

All  books  of  love,  see  that  at  any  hand ; 
And  see  you  read  no  other  lectures  to  her : 
You  understand  me :  over  and  beside 
Signior  Baptista's  liberality, 
I'll  mend  it  with  a  largess.     Take  your 

paper  too, 

And  let  me  have  them  very  well  perfumed : 
For  she  is  sweeter  than  perfume  itself 
To  whom  they  go  to.     What  will  you  read 
to  her? 

Luc.  Whatever  I  read  to  her,  I'll  plead  for  you 
As  for  my  patron,  stand  you  so  assured, 
As  firmly  as  yourself  were  still  in  place  : 
Yea,  and  perhaps  with  more  successful 

words 
Than  you,  unless  you  were  a  scholar,  sir. 

Gre.  O  this  learning,  what  a  thing  it  is ! 

Gru.  O  this  woodcock,  what  an  ass  it  is ! 

Pet .  Peace,  sirrah ! 

Hor.  Grumio,  mum !     God  save  you,  Signior 
Gremio. 

Gre.  And  you  are  well  met,  Signior  Hortensio. 
Trow  you  whither  I  am  going?     To  Bap- 

tista  Minola. 

I  promised  to  inquire  carefully 
About  a  schoolmaster  for  the  fair  Bianca : 
And  by  good  fortune  I  have  lighted  well 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  41 

On  this  young  man,  for  learning  and  be- 
haviour 

Fit  for  her  turn,  well  read  in  poetry 
And  other  books,  good  ones,  I  warrant  ye. 
Hor.  'Tis  well ;  and  I  have  met  a  gentleman 
Hath  promised  me  to  help  me  to  another, 
A  fine  musician  to  instruct  our  mistress ; 
So  shall  I  no  whit  be  behind  in  duty 
To  fair  Bianca,  so  beloved  of  me. 
Gre.  Beloved  of  me;  and  that  my  deeds  shall 

prove. 

Gru.  And  that  his  bags  shall  prove. 
Hor.  Gremio,  'tis  now  no  time  to  vent  our 

love; 

Listen  to  me,  and  if  you  speak  me  fair, 
I'll  tell  you  news   indifferent  good   for 

either. 
Here  is  a  gentleman  whom  by  chance  I 

met, 

Upon  agreement  from  us  to  his  liking, 
Will  undertake  to  woo  curst  Katharine, 
Yea,   and   to  marry  her,   if   her   dowry 

please. 
Gre.  So  said,  so  done,  is  well. 

Hortensio,    have    you    told    him    all    her 

faults? 
Pet.  I  know  she  is  an  irksome  brawling  scold : 


42  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.          Act  I. 

If  that  be  all,  masters,  I  hear  no  harm. 
Gre.  No,  say'st  me  so,  friend?    What  coun- 
tryman ? 

Pet.  Born  in  Verona,  old  Antonio's  son: 
My  father  dead,  my  fortune  lives  for  me ; 
And  I  do  hope  good  days  and  long  to  see. 
Gre.  O  sir,  such  a  life,  with  such  a  wife,  were 

strange ! 
But  if  you  have  a  stomach,  to  't  i'  God's 

name 

You  shall  have  me  assisting  you  in  all. 
But  will  you  woo  this  wild-cat  ? 
Pet.  Will  I  live? 

Gru.  Will  he  woo  her  ?  ay,  or  I'll  hang  her. 
Pet.  Why  came  I  hither  but  to  that  intent  ? 
Think  you  a  little  din  can  daunt  mine  ears  ? 
Have  I  not  in  my  time  heard  lions  roar  ? 
Have  I  not  heard  the  sea  pufFd  up  with 

winds 
Rage   like   an   angry  boar   chafed   with 

sweat  ? 
Have  I  not  heard  great  ordnance  in  the 

field, 
And    heaven's   artillery   thunder    in    the 

skies  ? 

Have  I  not  in  a  pitched  battle  heard 
Loud  'larums,  neighing  steeds,  and  trum- 
pets' clang? 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  43 

And  do  you  tell  me  of  a  woman's  tongue, 
That  gives  not  half  so  great  a  blow  to  hear 
As  will  a  chestnut  in  a  farmer's  fire? 
Tush,  tush !   fear  boys  with  bugs. 

Gru.  For  he  fears  none. 

Gre.  Hortensio,  hark: 

This  gentleman  is  happily  arrived, 
My  mind  presumes,  for  his  own  good  and 
ours. 

Hor.  I  promised  we  would  be  contributors 
And  bear  his  charge  of  wooing,  what- 
soe'er. 

Gre.  And  so  we  will,  provided  that  he  win  her. 

Gru.  I  would  I  were  as  sure  of  a  good  dinner. 

Enter  Tranio  brave,  and  Biondello. 

Tra.  Gentlemen,  God  save  you.     If  I  may  be 

bold, 
Tell   me,   I   beseech   you,   which   is   the 

readiest  way 

To  the  house  of  Signior  Baptista  Minola  ? 
Bion.  He  that  has  the  two  fair  daughters :  is  't 

he  you  mean? 
Tra.  Even  he,  Biondello. 
Gre.  Hark  you,  sir ;  you  mean  not  her  to — 


44  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

Tra.  Perhaps,  him  and  her,  sir :  what  have  you 

to  do? 
Pet.  Not  her  that  chides,  sir,  at  any  hand,  I 

pray. 
Tra.  I  love  no  chiders,  sir.     Biondello,  let's 

away. 

Luc.  Well  begun,  Tranio. 
Hor.  Sir,  a  word  ere  you  go ; 

Are  you  a  suitor  to  the  maid  you  talk  of, 

yea  or  no? 

Tra.  And  if  I  be,  sir,  is  it  any  offence  ? 
Gre.  No ;  if  without  more  words  you  will  get 

you  hence. 

Tra.  Why,  sir,  I  pray,  are  not  the  streets  as 
free 

For  me  as  for  you? 

Gre.  But  so  is  not  she. 

Tra.  For  what  reason,  I  beseech  you? 
Gre.  For  this  reason,  if  you'll  know, 

That   she's   the   choice   love   of   Signior 

Gremio. 
Hor.  That  she's  the  chosen  of  Signior  Hor- 

tensio. 
Tra.  Softly,  my  masters !  if  you  be  gentlemen, 

Do  me  this  right ;  hear  me  with  patience. 

Baptista  is  a  noble  gentleman, 

To  whom  my  father  is  not  all  unknown ; 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  45 

And  were  his  daughter  fairer  than  she  is, 
She  may  more  suitors  have  and  me  for 

one. 
Fair    Leda's    daughter   had   a   thousand 

wooers ; 

Then  well  one  more  may  fair  Bianca  have : 
And  so  she  shall;    Lucentio  shall  make 

one, 

Though  Paris  came  in  hope  to  speed  alone. 
Gre.  What,  this  gentleman  will  out-talk  us  all ! 
Luc.  Sir,  give  him  head :  I  know  he'll  prove  a 

jade. 
Pet.  Hortensio,    to    what    end    are   all    these 

words  ? 
Hor.  Sir,  let  me  be  so  bold  as  ask  you, 

Did  you  yet  ever  see  Baptista's  daughter  ? 
Tra.  No,  sir ;  but  hear  I  do  that  he  hath  two, 
The  one  as  famous  for  a  scolding  tongue 
As  is  the  other  for  beauteous  modesty. 
Pet.  Sir,  sir,  the  first 's  for  me ;  let  her  go  by. 
Gre.  Yea,  leave  that  labour  to  great  Hercules ; 

And  let  it  be  more  than  Alcides'  twelve. 
Pet.  Sir,  understand  you  this  of  me  in  sooth : 
The  youngest  daughter  whom  you  hearken 

for 

Her    father    keeps    from    all    access    of 
suitors ; 


46  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Act  I. 

And  will  not  promise  her  to  any  man 

Until  the  elder  sister  first  be  wed : 

The  younger  then  is  free  and  not  before. 

Tra.  If  it  be  so,  sir,  that  you  are  the  man 

Must  stead  us  all  and  me  amongst  the  rest ; 
And  if  you  break  the  ice  and  do  this  feat, 
Achieve  the  elder,  set  the  younger  free 
For  our  access,  whose  hap  shall  be  to  have 

her 
Will  not  so  graceless  be  to  be  ingrate. 

Hor.  Sir,  you  say  well  and  well  you  do  con- 
ceive ; 

And  since  you  do  profess  to  be  a  suitor, 
You  must,  as  we  do,  gratify  this  gentle- 
man, 
To  whom  we  all  rest  generally  beholding. 

Tra.  Sir,  I  shall  not  be  slack :  in  sign  whereof, 
Please  ye  we  may  contrive  this  afternoon, 
And  quaff  carouses  to  our  mistress'  health, 
And  do  as  adversaries  do  in  law, 
Strive  mightily,  but  eat  and  drink  as 
friends. 

Gru.  Bion.  O  excellent  motion !    Fellows,  let's 
be  gone. 

Hor.  The  motion's  good  indeed  and  be  it  so, 
Petruchio,  I  shall  be  your  ben  venuto. 

[Exeunt. 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  47 

ACT  SECOND. 

SCENE  I. 

Padua.    'A  room  in  Baptista's  house. 
Enter  Katharina  and  Bianca. 

Bian.  Good  sister,  wrong  me  not,  nor  wrong 

yourself, 

To  make  a  bondmaid  and  a  slave  of  me ; 
That  I  disdain :  but  for  these  other  gawds, 
Unbind  my  hands,  I'll  pull  them  off  my- 
self, 

Yea,  all  my  raiment,  to  my  petticoat ; 
Or  what  you  will  command  me  will  I  do, 
So  well  I  know  my  duty  to  my  elders. 
Kath.  Of  all  thy  suitors,  here  I  charge  thee,  tell 
Whom  thou  lovest  best:    see  thou  dis- 
semble not. 

Bian.  Believe  me,  sister,  of  all  the  men  alive 
I  never  yet  beheld  that  special  face 
Which  I  could  fancy  more  than  any  other. 
Kath.  Minion,  thou  liest.    Is  't  not  Hortensio  ? 
Bian.  If  you  affect  him,  sister,  here  I  swear 
I'll  plead  for  you  myself,  but  you  shall 
have  him. 


48  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.          Act  II. 

Kath.  O  then,  belike,  you  fancy  riches  more: 
You  will  have  Gremio  to  keep  you  fair. 

Bian.  Is  it  for  him  you  do  envy  me  so  ? 

Nay  then  you  jest,  and  now  I  well  perceive 
You  have  but  jested  with  me  all  this  while : 
I  prithee,  sister  Kate,  untie  my  hands. 

Kath.  If  that  be  jest,  then  all  the  rest  was  so. 

[Strikes  her. 

Enter  Baptist  a. 

Bap.  Why,  how  now,  dame!    whence  grows 

this  insolence? 

Bianca,  stand  aside.    Poor  girl !  she  weeps. 
Go  ply  thy  needle ;  meddle  not  with  her. 
For   shame,   thou   hilding  of   a   devilish 

spirit, 
Why  dost  thou  wrong  her  that  did  ne'er 

wrong  thee  ? 
When  did  she  cross  thee  with  a  bitter 

word  ? 

Kath.  Her  silence  flouts  me,  and  I'll  be  re- 
venged. [Flies  after  Bianca. 
Bap.  What,  in  my  sight  ?     Bianca,  get  thee  in. 

\Exit  Bianca. 

Kath.  What,  will  you  not  suffer  me?     Nay, 
now  I  see 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  49 

She  is  your  treasure,  she  must  have  a 

husband ; 
I  must  dance  bare-foot  on  her  wedding 

day 

And  for  your  love  to  her  lead  apes  in  hell. 
Talk  not  to  me :  I  will  go  sit  and  weep 
Till  I  can  find  occasion  of  revenge.  [Exit. 
Bap.  Was  ever  gentleman  thus  grieved  as  I? 
But  who  comes  here? 

Enter  Gremio,  Lucentio  in  the  habit  of  a  mean 
man;  Petruchio,  with  Hortensio  as  a  mu- 
sician; and  Tranio,  with  Biondello  bear- 
ing a  lute  and  books. 

Gre.  Good  morrow,  neighbour  Baptista. 
Bap.  Good  morrow,  neighbour  Gremio.     God 

save  you,  gentlemen ! 

Pet.  And  you,  good  sir ;  pray,  have  you  not  a 
daughter 

Called  Katharina,  fair  and  virtuous? 
Bap.  I  have  a  daughter,  sir,  called  Katharina. 
Gre.  You  are  too  blunt :   go  to  it  orderly. 
Pet.  You  wrong  me,  Signior  Gremio :  give  me 
leave. 

I  am  a  gentleman  of  Verona,  sir, 

That,  hearing  of  her  beauty  and  her  wit, 


50  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  II. 

Her  affability  and  bashful  modesty, 
Her    wondrous    qualities    and    mild    be- 
haviour, 

Am  bold  to  show  myself  a  forward  guest 
Within  your  house,  to  make  mine  eye  the 

witness 

Of  that  report  which  I  so  oft  have  heard. 
And,  for  an  entrance  to  my  entertainment, 
I  do  present  you  with  a  man  of  mine, 

[Presenting  Hortensio. 
Cunning  in  music  and  the  mathematics, 
To  instruct  her  fully  in  those  sciences, 
Whereof  I  know  she  is  not  ignorant : 
Accept  of  him,  or  else  you  do  me  wrong : 
His  name  is  Licio,  born  in  Mantua. 
Bap.  You're  welcome,  sir;    and  he,  for  your 

good  sake. 
But  for  my  daughter  Katharine,  this  I 

know, 
She  is  not  for  your  turn,  the  more  my 

grief. 
Pet.  I  see  you  do  not  mean  to  part  with  her, 

Or  else  you  like  not  of  my  company. 
Bap.  Mistake  me  not ;  I  speak  but  as  I  find. 
Whence  are  you,  sir?    what  may  I  call 

your  name? 
Pet.  Petruchio  is  my  name;  Antonio's  son, 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  51 

A  man  well  known  throughout  all  Italy. 

Bap.  I  know  him  well:   you  are  welcome  for 
his  sake. 

Gre.  Saving  your  tale,  Petruchio,  I  pray, 

Let  us,  that  are  poor  petitioners,  speak 

too: 
Baccare!    you  are  marvellous  forward. 

Pet.  O,  pardon  me,  Signior  Gremio ;   I  would 
fain  be  doing. 

Gre.  I  doubt  it  not,  sir ;  but  you  will  curse  your 
wooing.  Neighbour,  this  is  a  gift  very 
grateful,  I  am  sure  of  it.  To  express  the 
like  kindness,  myself,  that  have  been  more 
kindly  beholding  to  you  than  any,  freely 
give  unto  you  this  young  scholar  [pre- 
senting Lucentio],  that  hath  been  long 
studying  at  Rheims ;  as  cunning  in  Greek, 
Latin,  and  other  languages,  as  the  other 
in  music  and  mathematics:  his  name  is 
Cambio;  pray,  accept  his  service. 

Bap.  A  thousand  thanks,  Signior  Gremio. 
Welcome,  good  Cambio.  But,  gentle  sir 
[to  Tranio],  methinks  you  walk  like  a 
stranger:  may  I  be  so  bold  to  know  the 
cause  of  your  coming? 

Tra.     Pardon  me,  sir,  the  boldness  is  mine 
own; 


52  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  II. 

That,  being  a  stranger  in  this  city  here, 
Do  make  myself  a  suitor  to  your  daughter, 
Unto  Bianca,  fair  and  virtuous. 
Nor  is  your  firm  resolve  unknown  to  me, 
In  the  preferment  of  the  eldest  sister. 
This  liberty  is  all  that  I  request, 
That,  upon  knowledge  of  my  parentage, 
I  may  have  welcome  'mongst  the  rest  that 

woo 

And  free  access  and  favour  as  the  rest : 
And,  toward  the  education  of  your  daugh- 
ters, 

I  here  bestow  a  simple  instrument, 
And  this  small  packet  of  Greek  and  Latin 

books : 
If  you  accept  them,  then  their  worth  is 

great. 
Bap.  Lucentio  is  your  name;    of  whence,  I 

pray? 

Tra.  Of  Pisa,  sir;   son  to  Vincentio. 
Bap.  A  mighty  man  of  Pisa;  by  report 

I  know  him  well :  you  are  very  welcome, 

sir. 
Take  you  the  lute,  and  you  the  set  of 

books ; 

You  shall  go  see  your  pupils  presently. 
Holla,  within! 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  53 

Enter  a  Servant. 

Sirrah,  lead  these  gentlemen 
To  my  daughters ;  and  tell  them  both, 
These  are  their  tutors :  bid  them  use  them 
well. 

[Exit  Servant,  with  Luc.  and  Hor.,  Bio. 
following.  ] 

We  will  go  walk  a  little  in  the  orchard, 
And  then  to  dinner.       You  are  passing 

welcome, 

And  so  I  pray  you  all  to  think  yourselves. 
Pet.  Signior    Baptista,    my    business    asketh 

haste, 

And  every  day  I  cannot  come  to  woo. 
You  knew  my  father  well,  and  in  him  me, 
Left  solely  heir  to  all  his  lands  and  goods, 
Which   I  have  better'd  rather  than   de- 
creased : 

Then  tell  me,  if  I  get  your  daughter's  love, 

What  dowry  shall  I  have  with  her  to  wife? 

Bap.  After   my   death   the   one   half   of   my 

lands, 
And     in     possession     twenty     thousand 

crowns. 
Pet.  And,  for  that  dowry,  I'll  assure  her  of 


54  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  II. 

Her  widowhood,  be  it  that  she  survive  me, 
In  all  my  lands  and  leases  whatsoever : 
Let  specialties  be  therefore  drawn  between 

us, 
That  covenants  may  be  kept  on  either 

hand. 
'Bap.  Ay,    when    the    special    thing    is    well 

obtain'd, 

That  is,  her  love ;  for  that  is  all  in  all. 
Pet.  Why,  that  is  nothing;    for  I  tell  you, 

father, 

I  am  as  peremptory  as  she  proud-minded ; 
And  where  two  raging  fires  meet  together 
They  do  consume  the  thing  that  feeds 

their  fury : 
Though  little  fire  grows  great  with  little 

wind, 
Yet  extreme  gusts  will  blow  out  fire  and 

all: 

So  I  to  her  and  so  she  yields  to  me ; 
For  I  am  rough  and  woo  not  like  a  babe. 
'Bap.  Well  may'st  thou  woo,  and  happy  be  thy 

speed ! 
But   be   thou   arm'd    for   some   unhappy 

words. 
Pet.  Ay,  to  the  proof;   as  mountains  are  for 

winds, 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  55 

That  shake  not,  though  they  blow  per- 
petually. 

Re-enter  Hortensio,  with  his  head  broken. 

Bap.  How  now,  my  friend!    why  dost  thou 

look  so  pale? 

Hor.  For  fear,  I  promise  you,  if  I  look  pale. 
Bap.  What,  will  my  daughter  prove  a  good 

musician  ? 
Hor.  I  think  she'll  sooner  prove  a  soldier : 

Iron  may  hold  with  her,  but  never  lutes. 
Bap.  Why,  then  thou  canst  not  break  her  to 

the  lute? 
Hor.  Why,  no ;  for  she  hath  broke  the  lute  to 

me. 

I  did  but  tell  her  she  mistook  her  frets, 
And  bow'd  her  hand  to  teach  her  finger- 
ing; 
.When,   with   a   most   impatient   devilish 

spirit, 
*  Frets,  call  you  these?'  quoth  she;    Til 

fume  with  them :' 
And,  with  that  word,  she  struck  me  on  the 

head, 
And  through  the  instrument  my  pate  made 

way; 
And  there  I  stood  amazed  for  a  while, 


56  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  II. 

As  on  a  pillory,  looking  through  the  lute ; 
While  she  did  call  me  rascal  fiddler 
And  twangling  Jack;    with  twenty  such 

vile  terms, 

As  had  she  studied  to  misuse  me  so. 
Pet.  Now,  by  the  world,  it  is  a  lusty  wench; 
I  love  her  ten  times  more  than  e'er  I  did : 
O,  how  I  long  to  have  some  chat  with  her ! 
Bap.  Well,  go  with  me  and  be  not  so  discom- 
fited: 
Proceed    in    practice    with    my   younger 

daughter ; 
She's  apt  to  learn  and  thankful  for  good 

turns. 

Signior  Petruchio,  will  you  go  with  us, 
Or  shall  I  send  my  daughter  Kate  to  you  ? 
Pet.  I  pray  you  do ;  I  will  attend  her  here, 

[Exeunt  Baptist  a,   Gremio,   Tranio,  and 
Hortensio. 

And  woo  her  with  some  spirit  when  she 

conies. 
Say  that  she  rail;    why  then  I'll  tell  her 

plain 

She  sings  as  sweetly  as  a  nightingale: 
Say  that  she  frown;   I'll  say  she  looks  as 

clear 


Miss  Rehan  as  Katharine 


Never  to  man  shall  Katharine  give  her  hand.1' — Act  1 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW,  57 

As  morning  roses  newly  wash'd  with  dew : 
Say  she  be  mute  and  will  not  speak  a 

word; 

Then  I'll  commend  her  volubility, 
And  say  she  uttereth  piercing  eloquence : 
If  she  do  bid  me  pack,  I'll  give  her  thanks, 
As  though  she  bid  me  stay  by  her  a  week : 
If  she  deny  to  wed,  I'll  crave  the  day 
When  I  shall  ask  the  banns,  and  when  be 

married. 
But  here  she  comes ;  and  now,  Petruchio, 

speak. 

Enter  Katharina. 

Good    morrow,    Kate;     for    that's    your 

name,  I  hear. 
Kath.  Well  have  you  heard,  but  something 

hard  of  hearing: 
They  call  me  Katharine  that  do  talk  of 

me. 
Pet.  You  lie,  in  faith ;  for  you  are  call'd  plain 

Kate, 
And  bonny  Kate,  and  sometimes  Kate  the 

curst ; 

But  Kate,  the  prettiest  Kate  in  Christen- 
dom, 


58  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  IL 

Kate  of  Kate-Hall,  my  super-dainty  Kate, 
For  dainties  are  all  Kates,  and  therefore, 

Kate, 

Take  this  of  me,  Kate  of  my  consolation ; 
Hearing  thy  mildness  praised  in  every 

town, 
Thy   virtues   spoke   of,   and   thy   beauty 

sounded, 

Yet  not  so  deeply  as  to  thee  belongs, 
Myself  am  moved  to  woo  thee  for  my  wife. 
Kath.  Moved!    in  good  time:    let  him  that 

moved  you  hither 
Remove  you  hence:    I  knew  you  at  the 

first 

You  were  a  moveable. 

Pet .  Why,  what's  a  moveable  ? 

Kath.  A  join'd-stool. 

Pet.  Thou  hast  hit  it :  come,  sit  on  me. 

Kath.  Asses  are  made  to  bear,  and  so  are  you. 
Pet.  Women  are  made  to  bear,  and  so  are  you. 
Kath.  No  such  jade  as  you,  if  me  you  mean. 
Pet.  Alas,  good  Kate,  I  will  not  burden  thee ! 
For,  knowing  thee  to  be  but  young  and 

light,— 
Kath.  Too  light  for  such  a  swain  as  you  to 

catch ; 
And  yet  as  heavy  as  my  weight  should  be. 


Scene  i.        THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  59 

Pet.  Should  be !   should — buzz ! 

Kath.  Well  ta'en,  and  like  a  buzzard. 

Pet.  O  slow-wing'd  turtle!    shall  a  buzzard 
take  thee? 

Kath.  Ay,  for  a  turtle,  as  he  takes  a  buzzard. 

Pet.  Come,  come,  you  wasp;   i'  faith,  you  are 
too  angry. 

Kath.  If  I  be  waspish,  best  beware  my  sting. 

Pet.  My  remedy  is  then,  to  pluck  it  out. 

Kath.  Ay,  if  the  fool  could  find  it  where  it  lies. 

Pet.  Who  knows  not  where  a  wasp  does  wear 
his  sting  ?     In  his  tail. 

Kath.  In  his  tongue. 

Pet .  Whose  tongue  ? 

Kath.  Yours,  if  you  talk  of  tails :  and  so  fare- 
well. 

Pet.  What,  with  my  tongue  in  your  tail  ?  nay, 

come  again, 
Good  Kate;   I  am  a  gentleman. 

Kath.  That  I'll  try.     [She  strikes  him. 

Pet.  I  swear  I'll  cuff  you,  if  you  strike  again. 

Kath.  So  may  you  lose  your  arms  : 

If  you  strike  me,  you  are  no  gentleman  ; 
And  if  no  gentleman,  why  then  no  arms. 

Pet.  A  herald,  Kate  ?     O,  put  me  in  thy  books ! 

Kath.  What  is  your  crest  ?  a  coxcomb  ? 

Pet.  A  combless  cock,  so  Kate  will  be  my  hen. 


60  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  II. 

Kath.  No  cock  of  mine;  you  crow  too  like  a 

craven. 
Pet.  Nay,  come,  Kate,  come;    you  must  not 

look  so  sour. 

Kath.  It  is  my  fashion,  when  I  see  a  crab. 
Pet.  Why,  here's  no  crab ;  and  therefore  look 

not  sour. 

Kath.  There  is,  there  is. 
Pet.  Then  show  it  me. 
Kath.  Had  I  a  glass,  I  would. 

Pet.  What,  you  mean  my  face? 
Kath.  Well  aim'd  of  such  a  young  one. 

Pet.  Now,  by  Saint  George,  I  am  too  young 

for  you. 

Kath.  Yet  you  are  wither'd. 
Pet.  'Tis  with  cares. 

Kath.  I  care  not. 

Pet.  Nay,  hear  you,  Kate :  in  sooth  you  scape 

not  so. 

Kath.  I  chafe  you,  if  I  tarry :  let  me  go. 
Pet.  No,  not  a  whit :  I  find  you  passing  gentle. 
'Twas  told  me  you  were  rough  and  coy 

and  sullen, 

And  now  I  find  report  a  very  liar ; 
For  thou  art  pleasant,  gamesome,  passing 

courteous, 

But  slow  in  speech,  yet  sweet  as  spring- 
time flowers : 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  6 1 

Thou  canst  not  frown,  thou  canst  not  look 
askance, 

Nor  bite  the  lip,  as  angry  wenches  will, 

Nor  hast  thou  pleasure  to  be  cross  in  talk, 

But  thou  with  mildness  entertain'st  thy 
wooers, 

With  gentle  conference,  soft  and  affable. 

Why  does  the  world  report  that  Kate  doth 
limp? 

O  slanderous  world !     Kate  like  the  hazel- 
twig 

Is  straight  and  slender,  and  as  brown  in 
hue 

As  hazel-nuts  and  sweeter  than  the  ker- 
nels. 

O,  let  me  see  thee  walk :  thou  dost  not  halt. 
Kath.  Go,  fool,  and  whom  thou  keep'st  com- 
mand. 
Pet.  Did  ever  Dian  so  become  a  grove 

As  Kate  this  chamber  with  her  princely 
gait? 

O,  be  thou  Dian,  and  let  her  be  Kate ; 

And  then  let  Kate  be  chaste  and  Dian 

sportful ! 
Kath.  Where  did  you  study  all  this  goodly 

speech  ? 
Pet.  It  is  extempore,  from  my  mother-wit. 


62  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  II. 

Kalh.  A  witty  mother !  witless  else  her  son. 
Pet.  Am  I  not  wise? 
Kath.  Yes ;  keep  you  warm. 

Pet.  Marry,  so  I  mean,  sweet  Katharine,  in 

thy  bed: 

And  therefore,  setting  all  this  chat  aside, 
Thus  in  plain  terms:    your  father  hath 

consented 
That  you  shall  be  my  wife;   your  dowry 

'greed  on; 

And,  will  you,  nill  you,  I  will  marry  you. 
Now,  Kate,  I  am  a  husband  for  your  turn ; 
For,   by   this    light,   whereby   I   see   thy 

beauty, 
Thy  beauty,  that  doth  make  me  like  thee 

well, 

Thou  must  be  married  to  no  man  but  me ; 
For  I  am  he  am  born  to  tame  you  Kate, 
And  bring  you  from  a  wild  Kate  to  a  Kate 
Conformable  as  other  household  Kates. 
Here   comes   your   father:    never   make 

denial ; 
I  must  and  will  have  Katharine  to  my 

wife. 

Re-enter  Baptist  a,  Gremio,  and  Tranio. 
Bap.  Now,  Signior  Petruchio,  how  speed  you 
with  my  daughter? 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  63 

Pet.  How  but  well,  sir  ?  how  but  well  ? 

It  were  impossible  I  should  speed  amiss. 
Bap.  Why,  how  now,  daughter  Katharine !   in 

your  dumps? 
Kath.  Call  you  me  daughter?  now,  I  promise 

you 

You  have  show'd  a  tender  fatherly  re- 
gard, 

To  wish  me  wed  to  one  half  lunatic ; 
A  mad-cap  ruffian  and  a  swearing  Jack, 
That  thinks  with  oaths  to  face  the  matter 

out. 
Pet.  Father,  'tis  thus:    yourself  and  all  the 

world, 
That  talk'd  of  her,  have  talk'd  amiss  of 

her: 

If  she  be  curst,  it  is  for  policy, 
For  she's  not  froward,  but  modest  as  the 

dove; 

She  is  not  hot,  but  temperate  as  the  morn ; 
For   patience   she   will   prove   a   second 

Grissel, 

And  Roman  Lucrece  for  her  chastity : 
And  to  conclude,  we  have  'greed  so  well 

together, 

That  upon  Sunday  is  the  wedding-day. 
Kath.  I'll  see  thee  hang'd  on  Sunday  first. 


64  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  II. 

Gre.  Hark,  Petruchio ;  she  says  shell  see  thee 

hang'd  first. 
Tra.  Is  this  your  speeding?    nay,  then,  good 

night  our  part ! 
Pet.  Be  patient,  gentlemen;   I  choose  her  for 

myself : 

If  she  and  I  be  pleased,  what's  that  to  you  ? 
'Tis  bargained  'twixt  us  twain,  being  alone, 
That  she  shall  still  be  curst  in  company. 
I  tell  you,  'tis  incredible  to  believe 
How  much  she  loves  me:   O,  the  kindest 

Kate! 

She  hung  about  my  neck ;  and  kiss  on  kiss 
She  vied  so  fast,  protesting  oath  on  oath, 
That  in  a  twink  she  won  me  to  her  love. 
O,  you  are  novices !  'tis  a  world  to  see, 
How  tame,   when  men  and  women  are 

alone, 
A  meacock  wretch  can  make  the  curstest 

shrew. 
Give  me  thy  hand,   Kate:    I   will  unto 

Venice, 

To  buy  apparel  'gainst  the  wedding-day. 
Provide   the   feast,    father,   and   bid   the 

guests ; 

I  will  be  sure  my  Katharine  shall  be  fine. 
Bap.  I  know  not  what  to  say:    but  give  me 

your  hands ; 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  65 

God  send  you  joy,  Petruchio !  'tis  a  match. 
Gre.  Tra.  Amen,  say  we :  we  will  be  witnesses. 
Pet.  Father,  and  wife,  and  gentlemen,  adieu ; 
I  will  to  Venice ;   Sunday  comes  apace : 
We  will  have  rings,  and  things,  and  fine 

array ; 

And,  kiss  me,  Kate,  we  will  be  married  o' 
Sunday. 

[Exeunt  Petruchio  and  Katharina  sever- 
ally. 

Gre.    Was  ever  match  clapp'd  up  so  suddenly  ? 
Bap.  Faith,   gentlemen,   now   I   play  a   mer- 
chant's part, 

And  venture  madly  on  a  desperate  mart. 
Tra.  'Twas  a  commodity  lay  fretting  by  you: 
'Twill  bring  you  gain,  or  perish  oh  the 

seas. 

Bap.  The  gain  I  seek  is,  quiet  in  the  match. 
Gre.  No  doubt  but  he  hath  got  a  quiet  catch. 
But    now,    Baptista,    to    your    younger 

daughter : 

Now  is  the  day  we  long  have  looked  for : 
I  am  your  neighbour,  and  was  suitor  first. 
Tra.  And  I  am  one  that  love  Bianca  more 

Than  words  can  witness,  or  your  thoughts 
can  guess. 


66  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  II. 

Gre.  Youngling,  thou  canst  not  love  so  dear 

as  I. 

Tra.  Greybeard,  thy  love  doth  freeze. 
Gre.  But  thine  doth  fry. 

Skipper,  stand  back:    'tis  age  that  nour- 

isheth. 

Tra.  But  youth  in  ladies'  eyes  that  flourisheth. 
Bap.  Content  you,  gentlemen :  I  will  compound 

this  strife. 
Tis  deeds  must  win  the  prize ;  and  he,  of 

both, 
That  can  assure  my  daughter  greatest 

dower 

Shall  have  my  Bianca's  love. 
Say,  Signior  Gremio,  what  can  you  assure 

her? 
Gre.  First,  as  you  know,  my  house  within  the 

city 

Is  richly  furnished  with  plate  and  gold ; 
Basins  and  ewers  to  lave  her  dainty  hands ; 
My  hangings  all  of  Tyrian  tapestry ; 
In  ivory  coffers  I  have  stuff 'd  my  crowns ; 
In  cypress  chests  my  arras  counterpoints, 
Costly  apparel,  tents,  and  canopies, 
Fine  linen,  Turkey  cushions  boss'd  with 

pearl, 
Valance  of  Venice  gold  in  needlework, 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  67 

Pewter  and  brass  and  all  things  that  be- 
long 
To  house  or  housekeeping:    then,  at  my 

farm 

I  have  a  hundred  milch-kine  to  the  pail, 
Sixscore  fat  oxen  standing  in  my  stalls, 
And  all  things  answerable  to  this  portion. 
Myself  am  struck  in  years,  I  must  confess ; 
And  if  I  die  to-morrow,  this  is  hers, 
If  whilst  I  live  she  will  be  only  mine. 
Tra.  That  '  only '  came  well  in.     Sir,  list  to 

me: 

I  am  my  father's  heir  and  only  son : 
If  I  may  have  your  daughter  to  my  wife, 
I'll  leave  her  houses  three  or  four  as  good, 
Within  rich  Pisa  walls,  as  any  one 
Old  Signior  Gremio  has  in  Padua; 
Besides  two  thousand  ducats  by  the  year 
Of  fruitful  land,  all  which  shall  be  her 

jointure. 

What,  have  I  pinch'd  you,  Signior  Gre- 
mio? 

Gre.  Two  thousand  ducats  by  the  year  of  land ! 
My  land  amounts  not  to  so  much  in  all : 
That  she  shall  have ;  besides  an  argosy 
That  now  is  lying  in  Marseilles'  road. 
What,  have  I  choked  you  with  an  argosy  ? 


68  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  II. 

Tra.  Gremio,  'tis  known  my  father  hath  no  less 
Than  three  great  argosies ;    besides  two 

galliasses, 
And  twelve  tight  galleys:    these  I  will 

assure  her, 
And  twice  as  much,  whatever  thou  offer'st 

next. 

Gre.  Nay,  I  have  off  er'd  all,  I  have  no  more ; 
And  she  can  have  no  more  than  all  I  have : 
If  you  like  me,  she  shall  have  me  and  mine. 
Tra.  Why,  then  the  maid  is  mine  from  all  the 

world, 

By  your  firm  promise :  Gremio  is  out-vied. 
Bap.  I  must  confess  your  offer  is  the  best ; 

And,  let  your  father  make  her  the  assur- 
ance, 
She  is  your  own;   else,  you  must  pardon 

me, 
If  you  should  die  before  him,  where's  her 

dower  ? 

Tra.  That's  but  a  cavil :  he  is  old,  I  young. 
Gre.  And  may  not  young  men  die,  as  well  as 

old? 
Bap.  Well,  gentlemen, 

I  am  thus  resolved :  on  Sunday  next  you 

know 
My  daughter  Katharine  is  to  be  married : 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  69 

Now,    on    the    Sunday    following,    shall 

Bianca 

Be  bride  to  you,  if  you  make  this  assur- 
ance; 

If  not,  to  Signior  Gremio : 
And  so,  I  take  my  leave,  and  thank  you 
both.  [Exit  Baptista. 

Gre.  Adieu,  good  neighbour. 

Now  I  fear  thee  not: 
Sirrah  young  gamester,  your  father  were 

a  fool 

To  give  thee  all,  and  in  his  waning  age 
Set  foot  under  thy  table:   tut,  a  toy! 
An  old  Italian  fox  is  not  so  kind,  my  boy. 

[Exit. 
Tra.  A  vengeance  on  your  crafty,  withered 

hide! 

Yet  I  have  faced  it  with  a  card  of  ten. 
.     'Tis  in  my  head  to  do  my  master  good : 
I  see  no  reason  but  supposed  Lucentio 
Must  get  a  father,  call'd — supposed  Vin- 

centio ; 

And  that's  a  wonder :  fathers  commonly 
Do  get  their  children ;  but  in  this  case  of 

wooing, 

A  child  shall  get  a  sire,  if  I  fail  not  of  my 
cunning.  [Exit. 


70  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  III. 

ACT  THIRD. 
SCENE  L 

Padua.     Baptist  at  s  house. 
Enter  Lucentio,  Hortensio,  and  Bianca. 

Luc.  Fiddler,  forbear ;  you  grow  too  forward, 

sir: 

Have  you  so  soon  forgot  the  entertainment 
Her     sister     Katharine     welcomed     you 

withal? 
Hor.  But,  wrangling  pedant,  this  is 

The  patroness  of  heavenly  harmony: 
Then  give  me  leave  to  have  prerogative ; 
And  when  in  music  we  have  spent  an  hour, 
Your   lecture   shall   have   leisure   for   as 

much. 

Luc.  Preposterous  ass,  that  never  read  so  far 
To  know  the  cause  why  music  was  or- 

dain'd ! 

Was  it  not  to  refresh  the  mind  of  man 
After  his  studies  or  his  usual  pain  ? 
Then  give  me  leave  to  read  philosophy, 
And  while  I  pause,  serve  in  your  harmony. 
Hor.  Sirrah,  I  will  not  bear  these  braves  of 
thine. 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  71 

Bian.  Why,    gentlemen,    you    do   me    double 

wrong, 
To  strive  for  that  which  resteth  in  my 

choice : 

I  am  no  breeching  scholar  in  the  schools ; 
I'll  not  be  tied  to  hours  nor  'pointed  times, 
But  learn  my  lessons  as  I  please  myself. 
And,  to  cut  off  all  strife,  here  sit  we  down : 
Take  you  your  instrument,  play  you  the 

whiles ; 
His   lecture  will  be  done  ere  you  have 

tuned. 
Hor.  You'll  leave  his  lecture  when  I  am  in 

tune? 

Luc.  That  will  be  never:    tune  your  instru- 
ment. 

Bian.  Where  left  we  last  ? 
Luc.  Here,  madam: 

*  Hie  ibat  Simois ;  hie  est  Sigeia  tellus ; 
Hie  steterat  Priami  regia  celsa  senis/ 
Bian.  Construe  them. 

Luc.  'Hie  ibat/  as  I  told  you  before, — 
<  Simois/  I  am  Lucentio, — '  hie  est/  son 
unto  Vincentio  of  Pisa, — '  Sigeia  tellus/ 
disguised  thus  to  get  your  love ; — '  Hie 
steterat/  and  that  Lucentio  that  comes 
a-wooing, — '  Priami/  is  my  man  Tranio, — 


72  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.        Act  III. 

'regia/  bearing  my  port, — '  celsa  senis,' 
that  we  might  beguile  the  old  pantaloon. 

Hor.  Madam,  my  instrument's  in  tune. 

Bian.  Let's  hear.     O  fie !  the  treble  jars. 

Luc.  Spit  in  the  hole,  man,  and  tune  again. 

Bian.  Now  let  me  see  if  I  can  construe  it: 

'  Hie  ibat  Simois,'  I  know  you  not, — '  hie 
est  Sigeia  tellus/  I  trust  you  not, — '  Hie 
steterat  Priami/  take  heed  he  hear  us  not, 
— '  regia,'  presume  not, — '  celsa  senis/ 
despair  not. 

'Hor.  Madam,  'tis  now  in  tune. 

Luc.  All  but  the  base. 

'Hor.  The  base  is  right;    'tis  the  base  knave 

that  jars. 

[Aside}  How  fiery  and  forward  our  ped- 
ant is ! 
Now,  for  my  life,  the  knave  doth  court 

my  love: 
Pedascule,  I'll  watch  you  better  yet. 

Bian.  In  time  I  may  believe,  yet  I  mistrust. 

Luc.  Mistrust  it  not;   for,  sure,  Aeacides 

Was  Ajax,  call'd  so  from  his  grandfather. 

Bian.  I    must    believe    my    master;     else,    I 

promise  you, 

I  should  be  arguing  still  upon  that  doubt : 
But  let  it  rest.  Npw,  Licio,  to  you : 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  73 

Good  masters,  take  it  not  unkindly,  pray, 
That  I  have  been  thus  pleasant  with  you 

both. 
'H or.  You  may  go  walk,  and  give  me  leave  a 

while : 

My  lessons  make  no  music  in  three  parts. 
]Luc.  Are  you  so  formal,  sir?    well,  I  must 

wait, 
[Aside]  And  watch  withal ;   for,  but  I  be 

deceived, 

Our  fine  musician  groweth  amorous. 
]Hor.  Madam,  before  you  touch  the  instrument, 
To  learn  the  order  of  my  fingering, 
I  must  begin  with  rudiments  of  art ; 
To  teach  you  gamut  in  a  briefer  sort, 
More  pleasant,  pithy,  and  effectual, 
Than   hath  been   taught   by  any  of  my 

trade : 

And  there  it  is  in  writing,  fairly  drawn. 
Bian.  Why,  I  am  past  my  gamut  long  ago. 
lHor.  Yet  read  the  gamut  of  Hortensio. 
Bian.  [reads]  "  '  Gamut '  I  am,  the  ground  of 

all  accord, 

'  A  re/  to  plead  Hortensio's  passion ; 
'  B  mi/  Bianca,  take  him  for  thy  lord, 

'  C  fa  ut/  that  loves  with  all  affection : 
'  D  sol  re/  one  clef,  two  notes  have  I : 


74  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  III. 

'  E  la  mi/  show  pity,  or  I  die/' 

Call  you  this  gamut  ?  tut,  I  like  it  not : 

Old  fashions  please  me  best ;  I  am  not  so 

nice, 
To  change  true  rules  for  old  inventions. 

Enter  a  Servant. 

Serv.  Mistress,  your  father  prays  you  leave 

your  books, 
And  help  to  dress  your  sister's  chamber 

up: 

You  know  to-morrow  is  the  wedding-day. 

Bian.  Farewell,  sweet  masters  both ;  I  must  be 

gone.      [Exeunt  Blanc  a  and  Servant. 

Luc.  Faith,  mistress,  then  I  have  no  cause  to 

stay.  [Exit. 

Hor.  But  I  have  cause  to  pry  into  this  pedant : 

Methinks  he  looks  as  though  he  were  in 

love: 

Yet  if  thy  thoughts,  Bianca,  be  so  humble, 
To  cast  thy  wandering  eyes  on  every  stale, 
Seize  thee  that  list:  if  once  I  find  thee 

ranging, 

Hortensio  will  be  quit  with  thee  by  chang- 
ing. [Exit. 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  75 

SCENE    II. 

Padua.    Before  Baptista's  house. 

Enter  Baptista,   Gremio,    Tranio,   Katharina, 
Bianca,  Lucentio,  and  others,  attendants. 

Bap.  Signior  Lucentio   [To  Tranio],  this  is 

the  'pointed  day 
That  Katharine  and  Petruchio  should  be 

married, 

And  yet  we  hear  not  of  our  son-in-law. 
What  will  be  said?   what  mockery  will  it 

be, 
To  want  the  bridegroom  when  the  priest 

attends 

To  speak  the  ceremonial  rites  of  marriage ! 

What  says  Lucentio  to  this  shame  of  ours  ? 

Kath.  No  shame  but  mine:   I  must,  forsooth, 

be  forced 
To  give  my  hand,  opposed  against  my 

heart, 

Unto  a  mad-brain  rudesby,  full  of  spleen ; 
Who  woo'd  in  haste,  and  means  to  wed  at 

leisure. 

I  told  you,  I,  he  was  a  frantic  fool, 
Hiding  his  bitter  jests  in  blunt  behaviour: 
And,  to  be  noted  for  a  merry  man, 


?6  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.        Act  III. 

He'll  woo  a  thousand,  'point  the  day  of 

marriage, 
Make  friends,   invite,  and  proclaim  the 

banns ; 
Yet  never  means  to  wed  where  he  hath 

woo'd. 

Now  must  the  world  point  at  poor  Katha- 
rine, 
And  say,  '  Lo,  there  is  mad  Petruchio's 

wife, 
If  it  would  please  him  come  and  marry 

her!' 
Tra.  Patience,  good  Katharine,  and  Baptista 

too. 

Upon  my  life,  Petruchio  means  but  well, 
Whatever    fortune    stays    him    from    his 

word: 
Though  he  be  blunt,  I  know  him  passing 

wise; 
Though   he   be   merry,    yet   withal   he's 

honest. 
Kath.  Would  Katharine  had  never  seen  him 

though ! 
[Exit  weeping,  followed  by  Bianco,  and 

others. 
Bap.  Go,  girl;    I  cannot  blame  thee  now  to 

weep; 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  77 

For  such  an  injury  would  vex  a  very  saint, 
Much   more   a   shrew   of   thy   impatient 
humour. 

Enter  Biondello. 

Bion.  Master,  master!  news,  old  news,  and 
such  news  as  you  never  heard  of ! 

Bap.  Is  it  new  and  old  too  ?  how  may  that  be  ? 

Bion.  Why,  is  it  not  news,  to  hear  of 
Petruchio's  coming? 

Bap.  Is  he  come  ? 

Bion.  Why,  no,  sir. 

Bap.  What  then? 

Bion.  He  is  coming. 

Bap.  When  will  he  be  here? 

Bion.  When  he  stands  where  I  am  and  sees  you 
there. 

Tra.  But  say,  what  to  thine  old  news? 

Bion.  Why,  Petruchio  is  coming  in  a  new  hat 
and  an  old  jerkin,  a  pair  of  old  breeches 
thrice  turned,  a  pair  of  boots  that  have 
been  candle-cases,  one  buckled,  another 
laced,  an  old  rusty  sword  ta'en  out  of 
the  town-armoury,  with  a  broken  hilt, 
and  chapeless;  with  two  broken  points: 
his  horse  hipped  with  an  old  mothy  saddle 
and  stirrups  of  no  kindred ;  besides,  pos- 


78  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.        Act  III. 

sessed  with  the  glanders  and  like  to  mose 
in  the  chine;  troubled  with  the  lampass, 
infected  with  the  fashions,  full  of  wind- 
galls,  sped  with  spavins,  rayed  with  the 
yellows,  past  cure  of  the  fives,  stark 
spoiled  with  the  staggers,  begnawn  with 
the  bots,  swayed  in  the  back  and  shoulder- 
shotten;  near-legged  before  and  with  a 
half-cheeked  bit  and  a  head-stall  of  sheep's 
leather  jvhich,  being  restrained  to  keep 
him  from  stumbling,  hath  been  often  burst 
and  now  repaired  with  knots ;  one  girth 
six  times  pieced  and  a  woman's  crupper  of 
velure,  which  hath  two  letters  for  her 
name  fairly  set  down  in  studs,  and  here 
and  there  pieced  with  pack-thread. 

Bap.  Who  comes  with  him? 

Bion.  O,  sir,  his  lackey,  for  all  the  world  ca- 
parisoned like  the  horse ;  with  a  linen  stock 
on  one  leg,  and  a  kersey  boot-hose  on  the 
other,  gartered  with  a  red  and  blue  list ;  an 
old  hat,  and  '  the  humour  of  forty  fancies  ' 
pricked  in  't  for  a  feather:  a  monster,  a 
very  monster  in  apparel,  and  not  like  a 
Christian  footboy  or  a  gentleman's  lackey. 

Tra.  Tis  some  odd  humour  pricks  him  to  this 
fashion : 


Mr.  Drew  as  Petruchio 

1  I  will  be  master  of  what  is  mine  own.11 — Act  111. 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  79 

Yet    oftentimes     he     goes     but     mean- 

apparell'd. 

Bap.  I  am  glad  he's  come,  howsoe'er  he  comes. 
Bion.  Why,  sir,  he  comes  not. 
Bap.  Didst  thou  not  say  he  comes  ? 
Bion.  Who?   that  Petruchio  came? 
Bap.  Ay,  that  Petruchio  came. 
Bion.  No,  sir ;  I  say  his  horse  comes,  with  him 

on  his  back. 

Bap.  Why,  that's  all  one. 
Bion.  Nay,  by  Saint  Jamy, 

I  hold  you  a  penny, 

A  horse  and  a  man 

Is  more  than  one, 

And  yet  not  many. 

Enter  Petruchio  and  Grumio. 

Pet.  Come,  where  be  these  gallants  ?  who's  at 

home? 

Bap.  You  are  welcome,  sir. 
Pet.  And  yet  I  come  not  well. 

Bap.  And  yet  you  halt  not. 
Tra.  Not  so  well  apparell'd 

As  I  wish  you  were. 
Pet.  Were  it  better,  I  should  rush  in  thus. 

But  where  is  Kate?    where  is  my  lovely 
bride  ? 


80  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.        Act  III. 

How  does  my  father?    Gentles,  methinks 
you  frown: 

And  wherefore  gaze  this  goodly  company, 

As  if  they  saw  some  wondrous  monument, 

Some  comet  or  unusual  prodigy? 
Bap.  Why,  sir,  you  know  this  is  your  wedding- 
day: 

First  were  we  sad,  fearing  you  would  not 
come; 

Now  sadder,  that  you  come  so  unpro- 
vided. 

Fie,  doff  this  habit,  shame  to  your  estate, 

An  eye-sore  to  our  solemn  festival ! 
Tra.  And  tell  us,  what  occasion  of  import 

Hath  all  so  long  detained  you  from  your 
wife, 

And  sent  you  hither  so  unlike  yourself? 
Pet.  Tedious  it  were  to  tell,  and  harsh  to  hear : 

Sufficeth,  I  am  come  to  keep  my  word, 

Though  in  some  part  enforced  to  digress ; 

Which,  at  more  leisure,  I  will  so  excuse 

As  you  shall  well  be  satisfied  withal. 

But  where  is  Kate  ?     I  stay  too  long  from 
her: 

The  morning  wears,  'tis  time  we  were  at 

church. 

Tra.  See  not  your  bride  in  these  unreverent 
robes : 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  8l 

Go  to  my  chamber ;  put  on  clothes  of  mine. 
Pet.  Not  I,  believe  me:   thus  I'll  visit  her. 
Bap.  But  thus,  I  trust,  you  will  not  marry  her. 
Pet.  Good  sooth,  even  thus ;  therefore  ha'  done 

with  words : 

To  me  she's  married,  not  unto  my  clothes : 
Could  I  repair  what  she  will  wear  in  me, 
As  I  can  change  these  poor  accoutrements, 
'Twere    well    for    Kate    and    better    for 

myself. 

But  what  a  fool  am  I  to  chat  with  you, 
.When  I  should  bid  good  morrow  to  my 

bride, 
And  seal  the  title  with  a  lovely  kiss ! 

[Exeunt  Petruchio  and  Grumio. 
Tra.  He  hath  some  meaning  in  his  mad  attire : 
We  will  persuade  him,  be  it  possible, 
To  put  on  better  ere  he  go  to  church. 
Bap.  I'll  after  him,  and  see  the  event  of  this. 
[Exeunt  Baptista,  Gremio,  and  attendants. 
Tra.  But  to  her  love  concerneth  us  to  add 

Her  father's  liking:    which  to  bring  to 

pass, 

As  I  before  imparted  to  your  worship, 
I  am  to  get  a  man, — whate'er  he  be, 
It  skills  not  much,  we'll  fit  him  to  our 
turn, — 


82  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  III. 

And  he  shall  be  Vincentio  of  Pisa ; 
And  make  assurance  here  in  Padua 
Of  greater  sums  than  I  have  promised. 
So  shall  you  quietly  enjoy  your  hope, 
And  marry  sweet  Bianca  with  consent. 

Luc.  Were  it  not  that  my  fellow-schoolmaster 
Doth  watch  Bianca's  steps  so  narrowly, 
'Twere  good,  methinks,  to  steal  our  mar- 
riage ; 
Which  once  performed,  let  all  the  world 

say  no, 
I'll  keep  mine  own,  despite  of  all  the  world. 

Tra.  That  by  degrees  we  mean  to  look  into, 
And  watch  our  vantage  in  this  business : 
We'll  over-reach  the  greybeard,  Gremio, 
The  narrow-prying  father,  Minola, 
The  quaint  musician,  amorous  Licio; 
All  for  my  master's  sake,  Lucentio. 

Re-enter  Gremio. 

Signior    Gremio,    came    you    from    the 

church  ? 

Gre.  As  willingly  as  e'er  I  came  from  school. 
Tra.  And  is  the  bride  and  bridegroom  coming 

home? 
Gre.  A  bridegroom  say  you?    'tis  a  groom 

indeed, 


Scene  H.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  83 

A  grumbling  groom,  and  that  the  girl  shall 

find. 

Tra.  Curster  than  she?   why,  'tis  impossible. 
Gre.  Why,  he's  a  devil,  a  devil,  a  very  fiend. 
Tra.  Why,  she's  a  devil,  a  devil,  the  devil's 

dam. 

Gre.  Tut,  she's  a  lamb,  a  dove,  a  fool  to  him ! 
I'll  tell  you,  Sir  Lucentio :  when  the  priest 
Should  ask,  if  Katharine  should  be  his 

wife, 
*  Ay,  by  gogs-wouns/  quoth  he ;  and  swore 

so  loud, 
That,  all  amazed,  the  priest  let  fall  the 

book; 

And,  as  he  stoop'd  again  to  take  it  up, 
This   mad-brain'd   bridegroom  took   him 

such  a  cuff, 
That  down  fell  priest  and  book,  and  book 

and  priest : 

'  Now  take  them  up,'  quoth  he, '  if  any  list/ 
Tra.  What  said  the  wench  when  he  rose  again  ? 
Gre.  Trembled  and  shook ;  for  why  he  stamp'd 

and  swore, 

As  if  the  vicar  meant  to  cozen  him. 
But  after  many  ceremonies  done, 
He  calls  for  wine :  '  A  health !'  quoth  he ; 
as  if 


84  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  HI. 

He  had  been  aboard,  carousing  to  his 

mates 

After  a  storm :  quaff'd  off  the  muscadel, 
And  threw  the  sops  all  in  the  sexton's 

face; 

Having  no  other  reason 
But  that  his  beard  grew  thin  and  hungerly 
And  seem'd  to  ask  him  sops  as  he  was 

drinking. 
This  done,  he  took  the  bride  about  the 

neck 
And  kiss'd  her  lips  with  such  a  clamorous 

smack 
That  at  the  parting  all  the  church  did 

echo: 
And  I  seeing  this  came  thence  for  very 

shame ; 

And  after  me,  I  know,  the  rout  is  coming. 
Such  a  mad  marriage  never  was  before : 
Hark,  hark !  I  hear  the  minstrels  play. 

[Music. 

'Re-enter  Petruchio,  Katharina,  Bianca,  Bap- 
tista,  Hortensio,  Grumio,  and  Train. 

Pet.  Gentlemen  and  friends,  I  thank  you  for 

your  pains : 
I  know  you  think  to  dine  with  me  to-day, 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  85 

And  have  prepared  great  store  of  wedding 
cheer ; 

But  so  it  is,  my  haste  doth  call  me  hence, 

And  therefore  here  I  mean  to  take  my 

leave. 

Bap.  Is  't  possible  you  will  away  to-night? 
Pet.  I  must  away  to-day,  before  night  come : 

Make  it  no  wonder;    if  you  knew  my 
business, 

You  would  entreat  me  rather  go  than  stay. 

And,  honest  company,  I  thank  you  all, 

That  have  beheld  me  give  away  myself 

To  this  most  patient,  sweet,  and  virtuous 
wife: 

Dine  with  my  father,  drink  a  health  to  me ; 

For  I  must  hence ;  and  farewell  to  you  all. 
Tra.  Let  us  entreat  you  stay  till  after  dinner. 
Pet.  It  may  not  be. 

Gre.  Let  me  entreat  you. 

Pet.  It  cannot  be. 

Kath.  Let  me  entreat  you. 

Pet.  I  am  content. 

Kath.  Are  you  content  to  stay? 

Pet.  I  am  content  you  shall  entreat  me  stay  ; 

But  yet  not  stay,  entreat  me  how  you  can. 
Kath.  Now,  if  you  love  me,  stay. 
Pet.  Grumio,  my  horse. 


86  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  III. 

'Gru.  Ay,  sir,  they  be  ready:    the  oats  have 

eaten  the  horses. 
'Kath.  Nay,  then, 

Do  what  thou  canst,  I  will  not  go  to-day ; 

No,  nor  to-morrow,  not  till  I  please  myself. 

The  door  is  open,  sir ;  there  lies  your  way ; 

You  may  be  jogging  whiles  your  boots 
are  green ; 

For  me,  I'll  not  be  gone  till  I  please  my- 
self: 

'Tis  like  you'll  prove  a  jolly  surly  groom, 

That  take  it  on  you  at  the  first  so  roundly. 
Pet.  O   Kate,  content  thee;    prithee,  be  not 

angry. 
Kath.  I  will  be  angry :  what  hast  thou  to  do  ? 

Father,  be  quiet :  he  shall  stay  my  leisure. 
Gre.  Ay,  marry,  sir,  now  it  begins  to  work. 
Kath.  Gentlemen,     forward     to     the     bridal 
dinner : 

I  see  a  woman  may  be  made  a  fool, 

If  she  had  not  a  spirit  to  resist. 
Pet.  They  shall  go  forward,  Kate,  at  thy  com- 
mand. 

Obey  the  bride,  you  that  attend  on  her ; 

Go  to  the  feast,  revel  and  domineer, 

Carouse  full  measure  to  her  maidenhead. 

Be  mad  and  merry,  or  go  hang  yourselves : 


Q 

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rt 
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I 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  87 

But  for  my  bonny  Kate,  she  must  with  me. 
Nay,  look  not  big,  nor  stamp,  nor  stare, 

nor  fret ; 

I  will  be  master  of  what  is  mine  own : 
She  is  my  goods,  my  chattels ;   she  is  my 

house, 

My  household  stuff,  my  field,  my  barn, 
My  horse,  my  ox,  my  ass,  my  any  thing ; 
And  here  she  stands,  touch  her  whoever 

dare; 

I'll  bring  mine  action  on  the  proudest  he 
That  stops  my  way  in  Padua.  Grumio, 
Draw  forth  thy  weapon,  we  are  beset  with 

thieves ; 

Rescue  thy  mistress,  if  thou  be  a  man. 
Fear   not,   sweet   wench,   they   shall   not 

touch  thee,  Kate  : 
I'll  buckler  thee  against  a  million. 

[Exeunt     Petruchio,      Katharina,      and 
Grumio. 

Bap.  Nay,  let  them  go,  a  couple  of  quiet  ones. 
Gre.  Went  they  not  quickly,  I  should  die  with 

laughing. 

Tra.  Of  all  mad  matches  never  was  the  like. 
Luc.  Mistress,  what's  your  opinion  of  your 
sister  ? 


88  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

Bian.  That,  being  mad  herself,  she's  madly 

mated. 

Gre.  I  warrant  him,  Petruchio  is  Kated. 
Bap.  Neighbours   and   friends,   though  bride 

and  bridegroom  wants 
For  to  supply  the  places  at  the  table, 
You  know  there  wants  no  junkets  at  the 

feast. 

Lucentio,    you    shall    supply    the    bride- 
groom's place; 

And  let  Bianca  take  her  sister's  room. 
Tra.  Shall  sweet  Bianca  practise  how  to  bride 

it? 

'Bap.  She  shall,  Lucentio.     Come,  gentlemen, 
let's  go.  [Exeunt. 

ACT  FOURTH. 
SCENE  I. 

Petruchio 's  country  house. 
Enter  Grumio. 

Gru.  Fie,  fie  on  all  tired  jades,  on  all  mad 
masters,  and  all  foul  ways!  Was  ever 
man  so  beaten?  was  ever  man  so  rayed? 
was  ever  man  so  weary?  I  am  sent  be- 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  89 

fore  to  make  a  fire,  and  they  are  coming 
after  to  warm  them.  Now,  were  not  I  a 
little  pot,  and  soon  hot,  my  very  lips  might 
freeze  to  my  teeth,  my  tongue  to  the  roof 
of  my  mouth,  my  heart  in  my  belly,  ere  I 
should  come  by  a  fire  to  thaw  me :  but  I, 
with  blowing  the  fire,  shall  warm  myself ; 
for,  considering  the  weather,  a  taller  man 
than  I  will  take  cold.  Holla,  ho !  Curtis ! 

Enter  Curtis. 

Curt.  Who  is  that  calls  so  coldly  ? 

Gru.  A  piece  of  ice:  if  thou  doubt  it,  thou 
may'st  slide  from  my  shoulder  to  my  heel 
with  no  greater  a  run  but  my  head  and  my 
neck.  A  fire,  good  Curtis. 

Curt.  Is  my  master  and  his  wife  coming, 
Grumio  ? 

Gru.  O,  ay,  Curtis,  ay :  and  therefore  fire,  fire ; 
cast  on  no  water. 

Curt.  Is  she  so  hot  a  shrew  as  she's  reported  ? 

Gru.  She  was,  good  Curtis,  before  this  frost: 
but,  thou  knowest,  winter  tames  man, 
woman,  and  beast;  for  it  hath  tamed  my 
old  master,  and  my  new  mistress,  and  my- 
self, fellow  Curtis. 


90  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

Curt.  Away,  you  three-inch  fool!  I  am  no 
beast. 

Gru.  Am  I  but  three  inches?  why,  thy  horn 
is  a  foot;  and  so  long  am  I  at  the  least. 
But  wilt  thou  make  a  fire,  or  shall  I  com- 
plain  on  thee  to  our  mistress,  whose  hand, 
she  being  now  at  hand,  thou  shalt  soon 
feel,  to  thy  cold  comfort,  for  being  slow 
in  thy  hot  office  ? 

Curt.  I  prithee,  good  Grumio,  tell  me,  how 
goes  the  world? 

Gru.  A  cold  world,  Curtis,  in  every  office  but 
thine ;  and  therefore  fire :  do  thy  duty,  and 
have  thy  duty;  for  my  master  and  mis- 
tress are  almost  frozen  to  death. 

Curt.  There's  fire  ready;  and  therefore,  good 
Grumio,  the  news. 

Gru.  Why,  'Jack,  boy!  ho!  boy!'  and  as 
much  news  as  thou  wilt. 

Curt.  Come,  you  are  so  full  of  cony-catching! 

Gru.  Why,  therefore  fire;  for  I  have  caught 
extreme  cold.  Where's  the  cook  ?  is  sup- 
per ready,  the  house  trimmed,  rushes 
strewed,  cobwebs  swept;  the  serving-men 
in  their  new  fustian,  their  white  stockings, 
and  every  officer  his  wedding-garment 
on?  Be  the  jacks  fair  within,  the  jills 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  91 

fair  without,  the  carpets  laid,  and  every 
thing  in  order? 

Curt.  All  ready;  and  therefore,  I  pray  thee, 
news. 

Gru.  First,  know,  my  horse  is  tired ;  my  mas- 
ter and  mistress  fallen  out. 

Curt.    How  ? 

Gru.  Out  of  their  saddles  into  the  dirt;  and 
thereby  hangs  a  tale. 

Curt.  Let's  ha'  't,  good  Grumio. 

Gru.  Lend  thine  ear. 

Curt.  Here. 

Gru.  There.  [Strikes  him. 

Curt.  This  is  to  feel  a  tale,  not  to  hear  a  tale. 

Gru.  And  therefore  'tis  called  a  sensible  tale: 
and  this  cuff  was  but  to  knock  at  your  ear, 
and  beseech  listening.  Now  I  begin: 
Imprimis,  we  came  down  a  foul  hill,  my 
master  riding  behind  my  mistress, — 

Curt.  Both  of  one  horse  ? 

Gru.  What's  that  to  thee? 

Curt.  Why,  a  horse. 

Gru.  Tell  thou  the  tale:  but  hadst  thou  not 
crossed  me,  thou  shouldst  have  heard  how 
her  horse  fell  and  she  under  her  horse; 
thou  shouldst  have  heard  in  how  miry  a 
place,  how  she  was  bemoiled,  how  he  left 


92  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

her  with  the  horse  upon  her,  how  he  beat 
me  because  her  horse  stumbled,  how  she 
waded  through  the  dirt  to  pluck  him  off 
me,  how  he  swore,  how  she  prayed,  that 
never  prayed  before,  how  I  cried,  how  the 
horses  ran  away,  how  her  bridle  was  burst, 
how  I  lost  my  crupper,  with  many  things 
of  worthy  memory,  which  now  shall  die  in 
oblivion  and  thou  return  unexperienced  to 
thy  grave. 

Curt.  By  this  reckoning  he  is  more  shrew  than 
she. 

Gru.  Ay;  and  that  thou  and  the  proudest  of 
you  all  shall  find  when  he  comes  home. 
But  what  talk  I  of  this?  Call  forth 
Nathaniel,  Joseph,  Nicholas,  Philip,  Wal- 
ter, Sugarsop  and  the  rest :  let  their  heads 
be  sleekly  combed,  their  blue  coats 
brushed,  and  their  garters  of  an  indif- 
ferent knit:  let  them  curtsy  with  their 
left  legs,  and  not  presume  to  touch  a  hair 
of  my  master's  horsetail  till  they  kiss  their 
hands.  Are  they  all  ready? 

Curt.  They  are. 

Gru.  Call  them  forth. 

Curt.  Do  you  hear,  ho?  you  must  meet  my 
master  to  countenance  my  mistress! 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW,  93 

Gru.  Why,  she  hath  a  face  of ^her  own. 

Curt.  Who  knows  not  that  ? 

Gru.  Thou,  it  seems,  that  calls  for  company  to 

countenance  her. 

Curt.  I  call  them  forth  to  credit  her. 
Gru.  Why,  she  comes  to  borrow  nothing  of 

them. 

Enter  four  or  five  servingmen. 

Nath.  Welcome  home,  Grumio! 

Phil.  How  now,  Grumio ! 

Jos.  What,  Grumio! 

Nich.  Fellow  Grumio ! 

Nath.  How  now,  old  lad  ? 

Gru.  Welcome,  you; — how  now,  you; — what, 
you; — fellow,  you; — and  thus  much  for 
greeting.  Now,  my  spruce  companions, 
is  all  ready,  and  all  things  neat  ? 

Nath.  All  things  is  ready.  How  near  is  our 
master  ? 

Gru.  E'en  at  hand,  alighted  by  this ;  and  there- 
fore be  not — Cock's  passion,  silence!  I 
hear  my  master. 

Enter  Petruchio  and  Katharlna. 

Pet.  Where  be  these  knaves  ?    What,  no  man 
at  door 


94  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

To  hold  my  stirrup  nor  to  take  my  horse ! 
Where  is  Nathaniel,  Gregory,  Philip? 
'All  Serv.  Here,  here,  sir;    here,  sir. 
Pet.  Here,  sir!  here,  sir!  here,  sir!  here,  sir! 
You      logger  -  headed      and      unpolish'd 

grooms ! 
What,   no  attendance?    no   regard?    no 

duty? 

Where  is  the  foolish  knave  I  sent  before  ? 
Grit.  Here,  sir ;  as  foolish  as  I  was  before. 
Pet.  You  peasant  swain !  you  whoreson  malt- 
horse  drudge ! 

Did  I  not  bid  thee  meet  me  in  the  park, 
And  bring  along  these  rascal  knaves  with 

thee? 

Gru.  Nathaniel's  coat,  sir,  was  not  fully  made, 
And  Gabriel's  pumps  were  all  unpink'd  i' 

the  heel ; 

There  was  no  link  to  colour  Peter's  hat, 
And  Walter's  dagger  was  not  come  from 

sheathing : 
There  were  none  fine  but  Adam,  Ralph, 

and  Gregory; 

The  rest  were  ragged,  old,  and  beggarly ; 
Yet,  as  they  are,  here  are  they  come  to 

meet  you. 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  95 

Pet.  Go,  rascals,  go,  and  fetch  my  supper  in. 

[Exeunt  Servants. 

[Singing]     Where  is  the  life  that  late  I  led— 

Where  are  those — Sit  down,  Kate,  and 

welcome. — 
Soud,  soud,  soud,  soud ! 

Re-enter  Servants  with  supper. 

Why,  when,  I  say?  Nay,  good  sweet 
Kate,  be  merry. 

Off  with  my  boots,  you  rogues !  you  vil- 
lains, when? 

[Sings]     It  was  the  friar  of  orders  grey, 

As  he  forth  walked  on  his  way : — 
Out,  you  rogue !  you  pluck  my  foot  awry : 
Take  that,  and  mend  the  plucking  off  the 

other.  [Strikes  him. 

Be    merry,    Kate.      Some    water,    here; 

what,  ho ! 
Where's  my  spaniel  Troilus  ?     Sirrah,  get 

you  hence, 
And    bid    my    cousin    Ferdinand    come 

hither : 
One,  Kate,  that  you  must  kiss,  and  be 

acquainted  with. 


96  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

Where  are  my  slippers?      Shall  I  have 
some  water  ? 

Enter  one  with  water. 

Come,   Kate,   and   wash,   and   welcome 

heartily. 

You  whoreson  villain !  will  you  let  it  fall ! 

[Strikes  him. 

Kath.  Patience,  I  pray  you ;  'twas  a  fault  un- 
willing. 
Pet.  A  whoreson  beetle  -  headed,   flap-ear'd 

knave ! 
Come,  Kate,  sit  down ;  I  know  you  have  a 

stomach. 
Will  you  give  thanks,  sweet  Kate ;  or  else 

shall  I? 

What's  this?  mutton? 
First  Serv.  Ay. 

Pet.  Who  brought  it? 

Peter.  I. 

Pet.  Tis  burnt;  and  so  is  all  the  meat. 

What  dogs  are  these !  where  is  the  rascal 

cook? 
How  durst  you,  villains,  bring  it  from  the 

dresser, 
And  serve  it  thus  to  me  that  love  it  not  ? 


Mrs.  Gilbert  as  Curtis 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  97 

There,  take  it  to  you,  trenchers,  cups,  and 

all: 

[Throws  the  meat,  etc.,  about  the  stage. 
You  heedless  joltheads  and  unmanner'd 

slaves ! 
What,  do  you  grumble?   I'll  be  with  you 

straight. 

Kath.  I  pray  you,  husband,  be  not  so  disquiet : 
The  meat  was  well,  if  you  were  so  con- 
tented. 
Pet.  I  tell  thee,  Kate,  'twas  burnt  and  dried 

away; 

And  I  expressly  am  forbid  to  touch  it, 
For  it  engenders  choler,  planteth  anger ; 
And  better  'twere  that  both  of  us  did  fast, 
Since,  of  ourselves,  ourselves  are  choleric, 
Than  feed  it  with  such  over-roasted  flesh. 
Be  patient ;  to-morrow  't  shall  be  mended, 
And,  for  this  night,  we'll  fast  for  com- 
pany: 

Come,   I   will  bring  thee   to   thy   bridal 
chamber.  [Exeunt. 

Re-enter  Servants  severally. 
'NatH.  Peter,  didst  ever  see  the  like? 


98  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

Peter.  He  kills  her  in  her  own  humour. 
Re-enter  Curtis. 

Gru.  Where  is  he  ? 

Curt.  In  her  chamber,  making  a  sermon  of 

continency  to  her ; 
And  rails,  and  swears,  and  rates,  that  she, 

poor  soul, 
Knows  not  which  way  to  stand,  to  look,  to 

speak, 

And  sits  as  one  new-risen  from  a  dream. 
Away,  away !  for  he  is  coming  hither. 

[Exeunt. 

Re-enter  Petruchio. 

Pet.  Thus  have  I  politicly  begun  my  reign, 

And  'tis  my  hope  to  end  successfully. 

My  falcon  now  is  sharp  and  passing 
empty ; 

And  till  she  stoop  she  must  not  be  full- 
gorged, 

For  then  she  never  looks  upon  her  lure. 

Another  way  I  have  to  man  my  haggard, 

To  make  her  come  and  know  her  keeper's 
call, 

That  is,  to  watch  her,  as  we  watch  these 
kites 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  99 

That   bate    and   beat   and    will   not   be 

obedient. 
She  eat  no  meat  to-day,  nor  none  shall 

eat; 
Last  night  she  slept  not,  nor  to-night  she 

shall  not; 

As  with  the  meat,  some  undeserved  fault 
I'll  find  about  the  making  of  the  bed ; 
And  here  I'll  fling  the  pillow,  there  the 

bolster, 
This  way  the  coverlet,  another  way  the 

sheets : 

Ay,  and  amid  this  hurly  I  intend 
That  all  is  done  in  reverent  care  of  her ; 
And   in   conclusion   she   shall   watch   all 

night : 
And  if  she  chance  to  nod,  I'll  rail  and 

brawl, 

And  with  the  clamour  keep  her  still  awake. 
This  is  a  way  to  kill  a  wife  with  kindness ; 
And  thus  I'll  curb  her  mad  and  headstrong 

humour. 

He  that  knows  better  how  to  tame  a  shrew, 
Now  let  him  speak :  'tis  charity  to  show. 

[Exit. 


100  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

SCENE  II. 

Padua.    Before  Baptist -a 's  house. 
Enter  Tranio  and  Hortensio. 

Tra.  Is't  possible,  friend  Licio,  that  Mistress 

Bianca 

Doth  fancy  any  other  but  Lucentio? 
I  tell  you,  sir,  she  bears  me  fair  in  hand. 
Hor.  Sir,  to  satisfy  you  in  what  I  have  said, 
Stand  by  and  mark  the  manner  of  his 
teaching. 

Enter  Bianca  and  Lucentio. 

Luc.  Now,  mistress,  profit  you  in  what  you 

read? 
Bian.  What,  master,  read  you?    first  resolve 

me  that. 

Luc.  I  read  that  I  profess,  the  Art  to  Love. 
Bian.  And  may  you  prove,  sir,  master  of  your 

art! 
Luc.  While  you,  sweet  dear,  prove  mistress  of 

my  heart ! 
Hor.  Quick,  proceeders,  marry!       Now,  tell 

me,  I  pray, 
You  that  durst  swear  that  your  mistress 

Bianca 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  IOI 

Loved  none  in  the  world  so  well  as  Lu- 

centio. 

Tra.  O  despiteful  love!    unconstant  woman- 
kind! 

I  tell  thee,  Licio,  this  is  wonderful. 
Hor.  Mistake  no  more :  I  am  not  Licio, 
Nor  a  musician,  as  I  seem  to  be ; 
But  one  that  scorn  to  live  in  this  disguise, 
For  such  a  one  as  leaves  a  gentleman, 
And  makes  a  god  of  such  a  cullion : 
Know,  sir,  that  I  am  caird  Hortensio. 
Tra.  Signior  Hortensio,  I  have  often  heard 
Of  your  entire  affection  to  Bianca ; 
And  since  mine  eyes  are  witness  of  her 

lightness, 

I  will  with  you,  if  you  be  so  contented, 
Forswear  Bianca  and  her  love  for  ever. 
*Hor.  See,  how  they  kiss  and  court!     Signior 

Lucentio, 

Here  is  my  hand,  and  here  I  firmly  vow 
Never  to  woo  her  more,  but  do  forswear 

her, 

As  one  unworthy  all  the  former  favours 
That  I  have  fondly  flatter'd  her  withal. 
Tra.  And  here  I  take  the  like  unfeigned  oath, 
Never   to   marry   with   her   though   she 
would  entreat: 


102  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

Fie  on  her!    see,  how  beastly  she  doth 

court  him ! 
Hor.  Would  all  the  world  but  he  had  quite 

forsworn ! 

For  me,  that  I  may  surely  keep  mine  oath, 
I  will  be  married  to  a  wealthy  widow, 
Ere  three  days  pass,  which  hath  as  long 

loved  me 

As  I  have  loved  this  proud  disdainful  hag- 
gard. 

And  so  farewell,  Signior  Lucentio. 
Kindness  in  women,  not  their  beauteous 

looks, 
Shall  win  my  love:    and  so  I  take  my 

leave, 

In  resolution  as  I  swore  before.       [Exit. 
Tra.  Mistress   Bianca,   bless   you   with    such 

grace 

As  'longeth  to  a  lover's  blessed  case  ? 
Nay,  I  have  ta'en  you  napping,  gentle 

love, 

And  have  forsworn  you  with  Hortensio. 
Bian.  Tranio,  you  jest :  but  have  you  both  for- 
sworn me? 

Tra.  Mistress,  we  have. 
'Luc.  Then  we  are  rid  of  Licio. 

Tra.  T  faith,  he'll  have  a  lusty  widow  now, 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  103 

That  shall  be  woo'd  and  wedded  in  a  day. 
Bian.  God  give  him  joy. 
Tra.  Ay,  and  he'll  tame  her. 
Bian.  Relays  so,  Tranio. 

Tva.  Faith,  he  is  gone  unto  the  taming-school. 
Bian.  The  taming-school !   what,  is  there  such 

a  place  ? 
Tra.  Ay,    mistress,    and    Petruchio    is    the 

master ; 
That  teacheth  tricks  eleven  and  twenty 

long, 

To  tame  a  shrew  and  charm  her  chattering 
tongue. 

Enter  Biondello. 

Bion.  O  master,  master,  I  have  watch'd  so 

long 

That  I  am  dog-weary !  but  at  last  I  spied 
An  ancient  angel  coming  down  the  hill, 
Will  serve  the  turn. 

Tra.  What  is  he,  Biondello? 

Bion.  Master,  a  mercatante,  or  a  pedant, 

I  know  not  what ;  but  formal  in  apparel, 
In  gait   and   countenance   surely   like   a 
father. 

Luc.  And  what  of  him,  Tranio  ? 

Tra.  If  he  be  credulous  and  trust  my  tale, 


104  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.        Act  IV. 

I'll  make  him  glad  to  seem  Vincentio, 
And  give  assurance  to  Baptista  Minola, 
As  if  he  were  the  right  Vincentio. 
Take  in  your  love,  and  then  let  me  alone. 
[Exeunt  Lucentio  and  Bianca. 

Enter  a  Pedant. 

Fed.  God  save  you,  sir! 
Tra.  And  you,  sir !  you  are  welcome. 

Travel  you  far  on,  or  are  you  at  the  far- 
thest? 

Fed.  Sir,  at  the  farthest  for  a  week  or  two  : 
But  then  up  farther,  and  as  far  as  Rome  ; 
And  so  to  Tripoli,  if  God  lend  me  life. 
Tra.  What  countryman,  I  pray? 
Fed.  Of  Mantua. 

Tra.  Of  Mantua,  sir?  marry,  God  forbid! 

And  come  to  Padua,  careless  of  your  life  ? 
Fed.  My  life,  sir !  how,  I  pray  ?  for  that  goes 

hard. 
Tra.  'Tis  death  for  any  one  in  Mantua 

To  come  to  Padua.     Know  you  not  the 

cause  ? 
Your  ships  are  stay'd  at  Venice ;  and  the 

Duke, 

For  private  quarrel  'twixt  your  duke  and 
him, 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  105 

Hath  publish'd  and  proclaim'd  it  openly : 
'Tis  marvel,  but  that  you  are  but  newly 

come, 
You  might  have  heard  it  else  proclaim'd 

about. 

Fed.  Alas,  sir,  it  is  worse  for  me  than  so ! 
For  I  have  bills  for  money  by  exchange 
From   Florence,   and   must   here   deliver 

them. 
Tra.  Well,  sir,  to  do  you  courtesy, 

This  will  I  do,  and  this  I  will  advise  you : 
First,  tell  me,  have  you  ever  been  at  Pisa  ? 
Fed.  Ay,  sir,  in  Pisa  have  I  often  been ; 
Pisa  renowned  for  grave  citizens. 
Tra.  Among  them  know  you  one  Vincentio  ? 
Fed.  I  know  him  not,  but  I  have  heard  of  him ; 

A  merchant  of  incomparable  wealth. 
Tra.  He  is  my  father,  sir ;  and,  sooth  to  say, 
In  countenance  somewhat  doth  resemble 

you. 

'Bion.  As  much  as  an  apple  doth  an  oyster,  and 
all  one.  [Aside. 

Tra.  To  save  your  life  in  this  extremity, 
This  favour  will  I  do  you  for  his  sake ; 
And  think  it  not  the  worst  of  all  your 

fortunes 
That  you  are  like  to  Sir  Vincentio. 


106  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

His  name  and  credit  shall  you  undertake, 
And  in  my  house  you  shall  be  friendly 

lodged : 
Look   that  you   take   upon  you   as   you 

should ; 
You  understand  me,  sir:    so  shall  you 

stay 
Till  you  have  done  your  business  in  the 

city: 

If  this  be  courtesy,  sir,  accept  of  it. 
Fed.  O  sir,  I  do ;  and  will  repute  you  ever 

The  patron  of  my  life  and  liberty. 
Tra.  Then  go  with  me  to  make  the  matter 

good. 

This,  by  the  way,  I  let  you  understand ; 
My  father  is  here  look'd  for  every  day, 
To  pass  assurance  of  a  dower  in  marriage 
'Twixt  me  and  one  Baptista's  daughter 

here: 
In   all   these   circumstances    I'll   instruct 

you: 

Go  with  me  to  clothe  you  as  becomes  you. 

[Exeunt. 


Scene  lii.    THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  107 

SCENE   III. 

TA  room  in  Petruchio's  house. 
Enter  Katharina  and  Grumio. 

Gru.  No,  no,  forsooth ;  I  dare  not  for  my  life. 
Kath.  The  more  my  wrong,  the  more  his  spite 
appears : 

What,  did  he  marry  me  to  famish  me  ? 

Beggars,  that  come  unto  my  father's  door, 

Upon  entreaty  have  a  present  alms; 

If  not,  elsewhere  they  meet  with  charity : 

But  I,  who  never  knew  how  to  entreat, 

Nor  never  needed  that  I  should  entreat, 

Am  starved  for  meat,  giddy  for  lack  of 
sleep ; 

.With  oaths  kept  waking,  and  with  brawl- 
ing fed: 

And  that  which  spites  me  more  than  all 
these  wants, 

He  does  it  under  name  of  perfect  love ; 

As  who  should  say,  if  I  should  sleep  or 
eat, 

Twere  deadly  sickness  or  else  present 
death. 

I  prithee  go  and  get  me  some  repast ; 


I08  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

I  care  not  what,  so  it  be  wholesome  food. 
Gru.  What  say  you  to  a  neat's  foot? 
Kath.  Tis  passing  good:    I  prithee  let  me 

have  it. 
Gru.  I  fear  it  is  too  choleric  a  meat. 

How  say  you  to  a  fat  tripe  finely  broil'd  ? 
Kath.  I  like  it  well :  good  Grumio,  fetch  it  me. 
Gru.  I  cannot  tell ;  I  fear  'tis  choleric. 

What  say  you  to  a  piece  of  beef  and  mus- 
tard? 

Kath.  A  dish  that  I  do  love  to  feed  upon. 
Gru.  Ay,  but  the  mustard  is  too  hot  a  little. 
Kath.  Why  then,  the  beef,  and  let  the  mustard 

rest. 
Gru.  Nay  then,  I  will  not :  you  shall  have  the 

mustard, 

Or  else  you  get  no  beef  of  Grumio. 
Kath.  Then  both,  or  one,  or  anything  thou 

wilt. 

Gru.  Why  then,  the  mustard  without  the  beef. 

Kath.  Go,  get  thee  gone,  thou  false  deluding 

slave,  [Beats  him. 

That  feed'st  me  with  the  very  name  of 

meat: 

Sorrow  on  thee  and  all  the  pack  of  you 
That  triumph  thus  upon  my  misery! 
Go,  get  thee  gone,  I  say. 


Scene  Hi.    THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  1 09 

Enter  Petruchio  and  Hortensio  with  meat. 

Pet.  How  fares  my  Kate?    What,  sweeting, 

all  amort? 

Hor.  Mistress,  what  cheer? 
Kath.  Faith,  as  cold  as  can  be. 

Pet.  Pluck   up   thy   spirits;    look   cheerfully 

upon  me. 

Here,  love ;  thou  see'st  how  diligent  I  am 
To  dress  thy  meat  myself  and  bring  it 

thee: 
I    am    sure,    sweet    Kate,    this    kindness 

merits  thanks. 
What,   not   a   word?      Nay,   then   thou 

lovest  it  not ; 

And  all  my  pains  is  sorted  to  no  proof. 
Here,  take  away  this  dish. 
Kath.  I  pray  you,  let  it  stand. 

Pet.  The  poorest  service  is  repaid  with  thanks ; 
And  so  shall  mine,  before  you  touch  the 

meat. 

Kath.  I  thank  you,  sir. 

Hor.  Signior  Petruchio,  fie !  you  are  to  blame. 
Come,  Mistress  Kate,  I'll  bear  you  com- 
pany. 

Pet.  Eat  it  all  up,  Hortensio,  if  thou  lovest 
me.  [Aside. 


110  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW,       Act  IV. 

Much  good  do  it  unto  thy  gentle  heart ! 
Kate,   eat   apace:    and   now,   my   honey 

love, 

Will  we  return  unto  thy  father's  house, 
And  revel  it  as  bravely  as  the  best, 
With  silken  coats  and  caps  and  golden 

rings, 
With  ruffs  and  cuffs  and  fardingales  and 

things ; 
With  scarfs  and  fans  and  double  change 

of  bravery, 
With  amber  bracelets,  beads  and  all  this 

knavery. 
What,  hast  thou  dined  ?     The  tailor  stays 

thy  leisure, 
To    deck    thy    body    with    his    ruffling 

treasure. 

Enter  Tailor. 

Come,  tailor,  let  us  see  these  ornaments ; 
Lay  forth  the  gown. 

Enter  Haberdasher. 

What  news  with  you,  sir? 
Hab.  Here  is  the  cap  your  worship  did  be- 
speak. 
Pet.  Why,  this  was  moulded  on  a  porringer ; 


Scene  iii.     THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  Ill 

A  velvet  dish :  fie,  fie !  'tis  lewd  and  filthy : 
Why,  'tis  a  cockle  or  a  walnut-shell, 
A  knack,  a  toy,  a  trick,  a  baby's  cap : 
Away  with  it!   come,  let  me  have  a  big- 
ger. 
Kath.  I'll  have  no  bigger:    this  doth  fit  the 

time, 
And    gentlewomen    wear    such    caps    as 

these. 
Pet.  When  you  are  gentle,  you  shall  have  one 

too, 

And  not  till  then. 

Hor.  That  will  not  be  in  haste.     [Aside. 

Kath.  Why,  sir,  I  trust  I  may  have  leave  to 

speak ; 

And  speak  I  will ;  I  am  no  child,  no  babe : 
Your  betters  have  endured  me  say  my 

mind, 
And  if  you  cannot,  best  you  stop  your 

ears. 

My  tongue  will  tell  the  anger  of  my  heart, 
Or  else  my  heart  concealing  it  will  break ; 
And  rather  than  it  shall,  I  will  be  free 
Even  to  the  uttermost,  as  I  please,  in 

words. 

Pet.  Why,  thou  say'st  true ;  it  is  a  paltry  cap, 
A  custard-coffin,  a  bauble,  a  silken  pie : 


112  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

I  love  thee  well,  in  that  thou  likest  it  not. 
Kath.  Love  me  or  love  me  not,  I  like  the  cap ; 
And  it  I  will  have,  or  I  will  have  none. 

[Exit  Haberdasher. 

Pet.  Thy  gown  ?  why,  ay :  come,  tailor,  let  us 
see  't. 

0  mercy,  God!    what  masquing  stuff  is 

here? 
.What's  this?   a  sleeve?    'tis  like  a  demi- 

cannon : 

What,  up  and  down,  carved  like  an  apple- 
tart? 
Here's  snip  and  nip  and  cut  and  slish  and 

slash, 

Like  to  a  censer  in  a  barber's  shop : 
Why,  what,  i'  devil's  name,  tailor,  call'st 

thou  this? 
Hor.  I  see  she's  like  to  have  neither  cap  nor 

gown.  [Aside. 

Tai.  You  bid  me  make  it  orderly  and  well, 
According  to  the  fashion  and  the  time. 
Pet.  Marry,  and  did;   but  if  you  be  remem- 

ber'd, 

1  did  not  bid  you  mar  it  to  the  time. 
Go,  hop  me  over  every  kennel  home, 
For  you  shall  hop  without  my  custom,,  sir : 


Scene  iii.     THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  1 13 

I'll  none  of  it:    hence!    make  your  best 

of  it. 

Kath.  I  never  saw  a  better-fashion'd  gown, 
More  quaint,  more  pleasing,  nor  more 

commendable : 

Belike  you  mean  to  make  a  puppet  of  me. 
Pet.  Why,  true ;  he  means  to  make  a  puppet  of 

thee. 
Tai.  She  says  your  worship  means  to  make  a 

puppet  of  her. 
Pet.  O    monstrous    arrogance!       Thou    liest, 

thou  thread,  thou  thimble, 
Thou   yard,    three  -  quarters,    half  -  yard, 

quarter,  nail ! 
Thou  flea,  thou  nit,  thou  winter-cricket 

thou! 
Braved  in  mine  own  house  with  a  skein 

of  thread? 

Away,  thou  rag,  thou  quantity,  thou  rem- 
nant ; 

Or  I  shall  so  be-mete  thee  with  thy  yard, 
As  thou  shalt  think  on  prating  whilst  thou 

livest ! 
I  tell  thee,  I,  that  thou  hast  marr'd  her 

gown. 
Tai.  Your  worship  is  deceived;   the  gown  is 

made 


114  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

Just  as  my  master  had  direction : 
Grumio  gave  order  how  it  should  be  done. 

Gru.  I  gave  him  no  order;    I  gave  him  the 
stuff. 

Tai.  But  how  did  you  desire  it  should  be 
made? 

Gru.  Marry,  sir,  with  needle  and  thread. 

Tai.  But  did  you  not  request  to  have  it  cut? 

Gru.  Thou  hast  faced  many  things. 

Tai.  I  have. 

Gru.  Face  not  me:  thou  hast  braved  many 
men;  brave  not  me;  I  will  neither  be 
faced  nor  braved.  I  say  unto  thee,  I  bid 
thy  master  cut  out  the  gown,  but  I  did 
not  bid  him  cut  it  to  pieces:  ergo,  thou 
liest. 

Tai.  Why,  here  is  the  note  of  the  fashion  to 
testify. 

Pet.  Read  it. 

Gru.  The  note  lies  in 's  throat  if  he  say  I 
said  so. 

Tai.     [reads]     '  Imprimis,     a     loose  -  bodied 
gown :' 

Gru.  Master,  if  ever  I  said  loose-bodied  gown, 
sew  me  in  the  skirts  of  it,  and  beat  me  to 
death  with  a  bottom  of  brown  thread:  I 
said  a  gown. 

Pet.  Proceed. 


Scene  iii.     THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  11$ 

Tai  [reads]  '  With  a  small  compassed  cape :' 

Gru.  I  confess  the  cape. 

Tai.   [reads]  '  With  a  trunk  sleeve :' 

Gru.  I  confess  two  sleeves. 

Tai.  [reads]  '  The  sleeves  curiously  cut.' 

Pet.  Ay,  there's  the  villany. 

Gru.  Error  i'  the  bill,  sir ;  error  i'  the  bill.     I 

commanded  the  sleeves  should  be  cut  out, 

and  sewed  up  again;   and  that  I'll  prove 

upon   thee,   though   thy   little   finger   be 

armed  in  a  thimble. 
Tai.  This  is  true  that  I  say :  an  I  had  thee  in 

place  where,  thou  shouldst  know  it. 
Gru.  I  am  for  thee  straight :  take  thou  the  bill, 

give  me  thy  mete-yard,  and  spare  not  me. 
Hor.  God-a-mercy,    Grumio!     then    he    shall 

have  no  odds. 
Pet.  Well,  sir,  in  brief,  the  gown  is  not  for 

me. 
Gru.  You  are  i'  the  right,  sir:    'tis  for  my 

mistress. 

Pet.  Go,  take  it  up  unto  thy  master's  use. 
Gru.  Villain,  not  for  thy  life:    take  up  my 

mistress'  gown  for  thy  master's  use! 
Pet.  Why,  sir,  what's  your  conceit  in  that  ? 
Gru.  O,  sir,  the  conceit  is  deeper  than  you 
think  for: 


Il6  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

Take  up  my  mistress'  gown  to  his  mas- 
ter's use ! 

O,  fie,  fie,  fie ! 

Pet.  Hortensio,  say  thou  wilt  see  the  tailor 
paid.  [Aside. 

Go  take  it  hence;    be  gone,  and  say  no 

more. 

Hor.  Tailor,  I'll  pay  thee  for  thy  gown  to- 
morrow : 

Take  no  unkindness  of  his  hasty  words : 

Away!   I  say;   commend  me  to  thy  mas- 
ter. [Exit  Tailor. 
Pet.  Well,  come,  my  Kate;  we  will  unto  your 
father's 

Even  in  these  honest  mean  habiliments : 

Our  purses  shall  be  proud,  our  garments 
poor; 

For  'tis  the  mind  that  makes  the  body 
rich; 

And  as  the  sun  breaks  through  the  darkest 
clouds, 

So  honour  peereth  in  the  meanest  habit. 

What!   is  the  jay  more  precious  than  the 
lark, 

Because  his  feathers  are  more  beautiful  ? 

Or  is  the  adder  better  than  the  eel, 

Because  his  painted  skin  contents  the  eye  ? 


Scene  iii.     THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  117 

O,  no,  good  Kate;   neither  art  thou  the 
worse 

For  this  poor  furniture  and  mean  array. 

If  thou  account'st  it  shame,  lay  it  on  me ; 

And  therefore  frolic :  we  will  hence  forth- 
with, 

To  feast  and  sport  us  at  thy  father's  house. 

Go,  call  my  men,  and  let  us  straight  to 
him; 

And   bring   our  horses   unto   Long-lane 
end; 

There  will  we  mount,  and  thither  walk  on 
foot. 

Let's  see;    I  think  'tis  now  some  seven 
o'clock, 

And  well  we  may  come  there  by  dinner- 
time. 
Kath.  I  dare  assure  you,  sir,  'tis  almost  two  ; 

And  'twill  be  supper-time  ere  you  come 

there. 
Pet.  It  shall  be  seven  ere  I  go  to  horse : 

Look,  what  I  speak,  or  do,  or  think  to  do, 

You  are  still  crossing  it.    Sirs,  let 't  alone : 

I  will  not  go  to-day ;  and  ere  I  do, 

It  shall  be  what  o'clock  I  say  it  is. 
'Hor.  Why,  so  this  gallant  will  command  the 
sun.  [Exeunt. 


Il8  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

SCENE  IV. 

Padua.    Before  Baptista's  house. 

Enter  Tranio,  and  the  Pedant  dressed  like 
Vincentio. 

Tra.  Sii,  this  is  the  house:  please  it  you  that 

I  call? 

Fed.  Ay,  what  else  ?  and  but  I  be  deceived 
Signior  Baptista  may  remember  me, 
Near  twenty  years  ago,  in  Genoa, 
Where  we  were  lodgers  at  the  Pegasus. 
Tra.  Tis  well;    and  hold  your  own,  in  any 

case, 
With    such    austerity   as    'longeth    to    a 

father. 
Fed.  I  warrant  you. 

Enter  Biondello. 

But,  sir,  here  comes  your  boy ; 
'Twere  good  he  were  school'd. 
Tra.  Fear  you  not  him.     Sirrah  Biondello, 
Now  do  your  duty  throughly,  I  advise 

you; 

Imagine  'twere  the  right  Vincentio. 
'Bion.  Tut,  fear  not  me. 


Scene  iv.     THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  119 

Tra.  But  hast  thou  done  thy  errand  to  Bap- 
tista? 

Bion.  I   told   him   that  your   father   was   at 

Venice ; 

And  that  you  look'd  for  him  this   day 
in  Padua. 

Tra.  Thou  'rt  a  tall  fellow :  hold  thee  that  to 

drink. 

Here  comes  Baptista:    set  your  counte- 
nance, sir. 

Enter  Baptista  and  Lucentio. 

Signior  Baptista,  you  are  happily  met. 
[To  the  Pedant}  Sir,  this  is  the  gentle- 
man I  told  you  of: 

I  pray  you,  stand  good  father  to  me  now, 
Give  me  Bianca  for  my  patrimony. 
Fed.  Soft,  son! 

Sir,  by  your  leave :  having  come  to  Padua 
To  gather  in  some  debts,  my  son  Lucentio 
Made  me  acquainted  with  a  weighty  cause 
Of  love  between  your  daughter  and  him- 
self: 

And,  for  the  good  report  I  hear  of  you, 
And   for   the   love   he   beareth   to   your 

daughter, 
And  she  to  him,  to  stay  him  not  too  long, 


120  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

I  am  content,  in  a  good  father's  care, 
To  have  him  match'd ;  and,  if  you  please 

to  like 

No  worse  than  I,  upon  some  agreement 
Me  shall  you  find  ready  and  willing 
With  one  consent  to  have  her  so  bestow'd ; 
For  curious  I  cannot  be  with  you, 
Signior  Baptista,  of  whom  I  hear  so  well. 
Bap.  Sir,  pardon  me  in  what  I  have  to  say : 
Your  plainness  and  your  shortness  please 

me  well. 

Right  true  it  is,  your  son  Lucentio  here 
Doth  love  my  daughter,  and  she  loveth 

him, 

Or  both  dissemble  deeply  their  affections : 
And  therefore,  if  you  say  no  more  than 

this, 

That  like  a  father  you  will  deal  with  him, 
And  pass  my  daughter  a  sufficient  dower, 
The  match  is  made,  and  all  is  done: 
Your  son  shall  have  my  daughter  with 

consent. 
Tra.  I  thank  you,  sir.     Where  then  do  you 

know  best 

We  be  affied  and  such  assurance  ta'en 
As    shall    with    either   part's    agreement 

stand  ? 


Scene  iv.    THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  121 

Bap.  Not  in  my  house,  Lucentio;    for,  you 

know, 

Pitchers  have  ears,  and  I  have  many  ser- 
vants : 

Besides,  old  Gremio  is  hearkening  still ; 
And  happily  we  might  be  interrupted. 
Tra.  Then  at  my  lodging,  an  it  like  you: 

There  doth  my  father  lie ;  and  there,  this 

night, 

We'll  pass  the  business  privately  and  well. 
Send  for  your  daughter  by  your  servant 

here; 

My  boy  shall  fetch  the  scrivener  presently. 
The   worst   is   this,   that,   at   so   slender 

warning, 
You  are  like  to  have  a  thin  and  slender 

pittance. 

Bap.  It  likes  me  well.     Cambio,  hie  you  home. 
And  bid  Bianca  make  her  ready  straight ; 
And,  if  you  will,  tell  what  hath  happened, 
Lucentio's  father  is  arrived  in  Padua, 
And  how  she's  like  to  be  Lucentio's  wife. 
Bion.  I  pray  the  gods  she  may  with  all  my 

heart ! 
Tra.  Dally  not  with  the  gods,  but  get  thee 

gone.  [Exit  Bion. 

Signior  Baptista,  shall  I  lead  the  way? 


122  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  TV. 

Welcome!    one  mess  is  like  to  be  your 

cheer : 

Come,  sir;   we  will  better  it  in  Pisa. 
Bap.  I  follow  you. 

[Exeunt  Tranio,  Pedant,  and  Baptista. 

Re-enter  Biondello. 

Bion.  Cambio. 

Luc.  What  sayest  thou,  Biondello? 

Bion.  You  saw  my  master  wink  and  laugh 

upon  you? 

Luc.  Biondello,  what  of  that? 
Bion.  Faith,  nothing;    but  has  left  me  here 

behind,  to  expound  the  meaning  or  moral 

of  his  signs  and  tokens. 
Luc.  I  pray  thee,  moralize  them. 
Bion.  Then  thus.      Baptista  is   safe,   talking 

with  the  deceiving  father  of  a  deceitful 

son. 

Luc.  And  what  of  him  ? 
Bion.  His  daughter  is  to  be  brought  by  you  to 

the  supper. 
'Luc.  And  then? 
Bion.  The  old  priest  at  Saint  Luke's  church  is 

at  your  command  at  all  hours. 
'Luc.  And  what  of  all  this? 


Scene iv.    THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  123 

Bion.  I  cannot  tell;  expect  they  are  busied 
about  a  counterfeit  assurance:  take  you 
assurance  of  her,  '  cum  privilegio  ad  im- 
primendum  solum:'  to  the  church;  take 
the  priest,  clerk,  and  some  sufficient  honest 
witnesses : 
If  this  be  not  that  you  look  for,  I  have  no 

more  to  say, 

But  bid  Bianca  farewell  for  ever  and  a 
day. 

Luc.  Hearest  thou,  Biondello? 

Bion.  I  cannot  tarry :  I  knew  a  wench  married 
in  an  afternoon  as  she  went  to  the  garden 
for  parslay  to  stuff  a  rabbit ;  and  so  may 
you,  sir:  and  so,  adieu,  sir.  My  master 
hath  appointed  me  to  go  to  Saint  Luke's, 
to  bid  the  priest  be  ready  to  come  against 
you  come  with  your  appendix.  [Exit. 

'Luc.  I  may,  and  will,  if  she  be  so  contented : 
She    will    be    pleased;     then    wherefore 

should  I  doubt? 
Hap  what  hap  may,  I'll  roundly  go  about 

her: 

It  shall  go  hard  if  Cambio  go  without 
her,  [Exit. 


124  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 


SCENE  V. 

*A  public  road. 

Enter  Petruchio,  Katharina,  Hortensio,  and 
Servants. 

Pet.  Come  on,  i'  God's  name;   once  more  to- 
ward our  father's. 
Good  Lord,  how  bright  and  goodly  shines 

the  moon ! 
Kath.  The  moon !  the  sun :  it  is  not  moonlight 

now. 

Pet.  I  say  it  is  the  moon  that  shines  so  bright. 
Kath.  I  know  it  is  the  sun  that  shines  so 

bright. 

Pet.  Now,  by  my  mother's  son,  and  that's  my- 
self, 

It  shall  be  moon,  or  star,  or  what  I  list, 
Or  ere  I  journey  to  your  father's  house. 
Go  on,  and  fetch  our  horses  back  again. 
Evermore  cross'd  and  cross'd;    nothing 

but  cross'd! 

Hor.  Say  as  he  says,  or  we  shall  never  go. 
Kath.  Forward,  I  pray,  since  we  have  come  so 
far, 


Scene  v.     THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  125 

And  be  it  moon,  or  sun,  or  what  you 

please : 

An  if  you  please  to  call  it  a  rush-candle, 
Henceforth  I  vow  it  shall  be  so  for  me. 
Pet.  I  say  it  is  the  moon. 
Kath.  I  know  it  is  the  moon. 

Pet.  Nay,  then  you  lie :   it  is  the  blessed  sun. 
Kath.  Then,  God  be  bless'd,  it  is  the  blessed 

sun: 

But  sun  it  is  not,  when  you  say  it  is  not ; 
And  the  moon  changes  even  as  your  mind. 
What  you  will  have  it  named,  even  that 

it  is; 

And  so  it  shall  be  so  for  Katharine. 
Hor.  Petruchio,  go  thy  ways ;  the  field  is  won. 
Pet.  Well,  forward,  forward!    thus  the  bowl 

should  run, 

And  not  unluckily  against  the  bias. 
But,  soft!   company  is  coming  here. 

Enter  Vincentio. 

[To    Vincentio]    Good    morrow,    gentle 

mistress :   where  away  ? 
Tell  me,  sweet  Kate,  and  tell  me  truly  too, 
Hast  thou  beheld  a  fresher  gentlewoman  ? 
Such  war  of  white  and  red  within  her 

cheeks ! 


126  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.       Act  IV. 

What  stars  do  spangle  heaven  with  such 

beauty, 
As  those  two  eyes  become  that  heavenly 

face? 
Fair  lovely  maid,  once  more  good  day  to 

thee. 
Sweet  Kate,  embrace  her  for  her  beauty's 

sake. 
Hor.  A'  will  make  the  man  mad,  to  make  a 

woman  of  him. 
Kath.  Young  budding  virgin,  fair  and  fresh 

and  sweet, 

Whither  away,  or  where  is  thy  abode  ? 
Happy  the  parents  of  so  fair  a  child ; 
Happier  the  man,  whom  favourable  stars 
Allot  thee  for  his  lovely  bed- fellow! 
Pet.  Why,  how  now,  Kate!     I  hope  thou  art 

not  mad: 
This    is    a    man,    old,    wrinkled,    faded, 

withered ; 

And  not  a  maiden,  as  thou  say'st  he  is. 
Kath.  Pardon,  old  father,  my  mistaking  eyes, 
That  have  been  so  bedazzled  with  the  sun, 
That  every  thing  I  look  on  seemeth  green : 
Now    I    perceive    thou    art    a    reverend 

father; 

Pardon,  I  pray  thee,  for  my  mad  mis- 
taking. 


Scene  v.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  127 

Pet.  Do,  good  old  grandsire ;  and  withal  make 

known 
Which  way  thou  travellest :  if  along  with 

us, 
We  shall  be  joyful  of  thy  company. 

Vin.  Fair  sir,  and  you  my  merry  mistress, 
That  with  your  strange  encounter  much 

amazed  me, 
My  name  is  call'd  Vincentio ;  my  dwelling 

Pisa; 

And  bound  I  am  to  Padua ;  there  to  visit 
A  son  of  mine,  which  long  I  have  not  seen. 

Pet.  What  is  his  name? 

Vin.  Lucentio,  gentle  sir. 

Pet.  Happily  met ;  the  happier  for  thy  son. 
And  now  by  law,  as  well  as  reverend  age, 
I  may  entitle  thee  my  loving  father: 
The  sister  to  my  wife,  this  gentlewoman, 
Thy  son  by  this  hath  married.     Wonder 

not, 

Nor  be  not  grieved :  she  is  of  good  esteem. 
Her  dowry  wealthy,  and  of  worthy  birth ; 
Beside,  so  qualified  as  may  beseem 
The  spouse  of  any  noble  gentleman. 
Let  me  embrace  with  old  Vincentio, 
And  wander  we  to  see  thy  honest  son, 
Who  will  of  thy  arrival  be  full  joyous. 


128  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         ActV. 

Vin.  But  is  this  true  ?  or  is  it  else  your  pleas- 
ure, 

Like  pleasant  travellers,  to  break  a  jest 
Upon  the  company  you  overtake? 
Hor.  I  do  assure  thee,  father,  so  it  is. 
Pet.  Come,  go  along,  and  see  the  truth  hereof ; 
For  our  first  merriment  hath  made  thee 
jealous.      [Exeunt  all  but  Hortensio. 
Hor.  Well,  Petruchio,  this  has  put  me  in  heart. 
Have  to  my  widow!    and  if  she  be  fro- 

ward, 

Then  hast  thou  taught  Hortensio  to  be 
untoward.  [Exit. 


ACT  FIFTH. 
SCENE  I. 

Padua.    Before  Lucentio's  house. 

Gremio  discovered.     Enter  behind  Biondello, 
Lucentio,  and  Bianca. 

Bion.  Softly  and  swiftly,  sir ;  for  the  priest  is 

ready. 
Luc.  I  fly,  Biondello :  but  they  may  chance  to 

need  thee  at  home ;  therefore  leave  us. 


Scene!.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  129 

Bion.  Nay,  faith,  I'll  see  the  church  o'  your 
back ;  and  then  come  back  to  my  master's 
as  soon  as  I  can. 
[Exeunt  LucentiOj  Blanca,  and  Biondello. 

Gre.  I  marvel  Cambio  comes  not  all  this  while. 

Enter    Petruchio,     Katharina,     Vincentio, 
Grumio,  with  Attendants. 

Pet.  Sir,  here's  the  door,  this  is  Lucentio's 

house : 

My  father's  bears  more  toward  the  mar- 
ket-place ; 

Thither  must  I,  and  here  I  leave  you,  sir. 
Vin.  You  shall  not  choose  but  drink  before 

you  go : 
I  think  I  shall  command  your  welcome 

here, 

And,  by  all  likelihood,  some  cheer  is  to- 
ward. [Knocks. 
Gre.  They're    busy   within;    you    were    best 
knock  louder. 

Pedant  looks  out  of  the  window. 

Ped.  What's  he  that  knocks  as  he  would  beat 

down  the  gate? 
Vin.  Is  Signior  Lucentio  within,  sir? 


130  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         ActV. 

Fed.  He's  within,  sir,  but  not  to  be  spoken 
withal. 

Vin.  What  if  a  man  bring  him  a  hundred 
pound  or  two,  to  make  merry  withal  ? 

Fed.  Keep  your  hundred  pounds  to  yourself: 
he  shall  need  none,  so  long  as  I  live. 

Pet.  Nay,  I  told  you  your  son  was  well  beloved 
in  Padua.  Do  you  hear,  sir? — to  leave 
frivolous  circumstances, — I  pray  you,  tell 
Signior  Lucentio,  that  his  father  is  come 
from  Pisa,  and  is  here  at  the  door  to 
speak  with  him. 

Fed.  Thou  liest:  his  father  has  come  from 
Padua,  and  here  looking  out  at  the 
window. 

Fin.  Art  thou  his  father? 

Fed.  Ay,  sir;  so  his  mother  says,  if  I  may 
believe  her. 

Pet.  [To  Vincentio]  Why,  how  now,  gentle- 
man! why,  this  is  flat  knavery,  to  take 
upon  you  another  man's  name. 

Fed.  Lay  hands  on  the  villain:  I  believe  a' 
means  to  cozen  somebody  in  this  city 
under  my  countenance. 

Re-enter  Biondello. 
Blon.  I  have  seen  them  in  the  church  together : 


o  < 

.3     I 


o    o 


"3 

<L> 

& 

<U 

^ 

h 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  131 

God  send  'em  good  shipping !  But  who  is 
here  ?  mine  old  master  Vincentio !  now  we 
are  undone,  and  brought  to  nothing. 

Yin.  [Seeing  Biondello]  Come  hither,  crack- 
hemp. 

Bion.  I  hope  I  may  choose,  sir. 

Vin.  Come  hither,  you  rogue.  What,  have 
you  forgot  me? 

Bion.  Forgot  you !  no,  sir :  I  could  not  forget 
you,  for  I  never  saw  you  before  in  all  my 
life. 

Vin.  What,  you  notorious  villain,  didst  thou 
never  see  thy  master's  father,  Vincentio? 

Bion.  What,  my  old  worshipful  old  master? 
yet,  marry,  sir :  see  where  he  looks  out  of 
the  window. 

Vin.  Is  't  so,  indeed  ?  [Beats  Biondello. 

Bion.  Help,  help,  help !  here's  a  madman  will 
murder  me.  \Exit. 

Ped.  Help,  son!    help,  Signior  Baptista! 

[Exit  from  above. 

Pet.  Prithee,  Kate,  let's  stand  aside,  and  see 
the  end  of  this  controversy.  [They  retire. 

Re-enter  Pedant  below;  Tranio,  Baptista,  and 
Servants. 


132  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         ActV. 

Tra.  Sir,  what  are  you,  that  offer  to  beat  my 
servant  ? 

Vin.  What  am  I,  sir !  nay,  what  are  you,  sir  ? 
O  immortal  gods !  O  fine  villain !  A  sil- 
ken doublet!  a  velvet  hose!  a  scarlet 
cloak !  and  a  copatain  hat !  O,  I  am  un- 
done! I  am  undone!  while  I  play  the 
good  husband  at  home,  my  son  and  my 
servant  spend  all  at  the  university. 

Tra.  How  now !   what's  the  matter  ? 

Bap.  What,  is  the  man  lunatic  ? 

Tra.  Sir,  you  seem  a  sober  ancient  gentleman 
by  your  habit,  but  your  words  show  you  a 
madman.  Why,  sir,  what  'cerns  it  you 
if  I  wear  pearl  and  gold?  I  thank  my 
good  father,  I  am  able  to  maintain  it. 

Vin.  Thy  father!  O  villain!  he  is  a  sail- 
maker  in  Bergamo. 

Bap.  You  mistake,  sir,  you  mistake,  sir. 
Pray,  what  do  you  think  is  his  name? 

Vin.  His  name !  as  if  I  knew  not  his  name :  I 
have  brought  him  up  ever  since  he  was 
three  years  old,  and  his  name  is  Tranio. 

Fed.  Away,  away,  mad  ass !  his  name  is  Lu- 
centio ;  and  he  is  mine  only  son,  and  heir 
to  the  lands  of  me,  Signior  Vincentio. 

Vin.  Lucentio!       O,  he  hath  murdered  his 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  133 

master !    Lay  hold  on  him,  I  charge  you, 
in  the  Duke's  name.     O,  my  son,  my  son ! 
Tell  me,  thou  villain,  where  is  my  son 
Lucentio  ? 
Tra.  Call  forth  an  officer. 

Enter  one  with  an  Officer. 

Carry  this  mad  knave  to  the  gaol.     Father 

Baptista,   I  charge  you  see  that  he  be 

forthcoming. 

Vin.  Carry  me  to  the  gaol! 
Gre.  Stay,  officer :  he  shall  not  go  to  prison. 
Bap.  Talk  not,  Signior  Gremio :  I  say  he  shall 

go  to  prison. 
Gre.  Take  heed,  Signior  Baptista,  lest  you  be 

cony-catched   in  this  business:      I   dare 

swear  this  is  the  right  Vincentio. 
Ped.  Swear,  if  thou  darest. 
Gre.  Nay,  I  dare  not  swear  it. 
Tra.  Then  thou  wert  best  say  that  I  am  not 

Lucentio. 

Gre.  Yes,  I  know  thee  to  be  Signior  Lucentio. 
Bap.  Away  with  the  dotard !  to  the  gaol  with 

him ! 
Vin.  Thus  strangers  may  be  haled  and  abused : 

O  monstrous  villain! 


134  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  V. 

Re-enter  Biondello,  with  Lucentio  and  Bianca. 

Bion.  O,  we  are  spoiled!  and — yonder  he  is: 
deny  him,  forswear  him,  or  else  we  are  all 
undone. 

Luc.  Pardon,  sweet  father.  [Kneeling. 

Vin.  Lives  my  sweet  son? 

\Exeunt  Biondello,  Tranio,  and  Pedant, 
as  fast  as  may  be. 

Bian.  Pardon,  dear  father. 

Bap.  How  hast  thou  offended  ? 

Where  is  Lucentio? 

Luc.  Here's  Lucentio, 

Right  son  to  the  right  Vincentio ; 
That  have  by  marriage  made  thy  daugh- 
ter mine, 

While  counterfeit  supposes  blear'd  thine 
eyne. 

Gre.  Here's  packing,  with  a  witness,  to  de- 
ceive us  all ! 

Vin.  Where  is  that  damned  villain  Tranio, 
That  faced  and  braved  me  in  this  matter 
so? 

Bap.  Why,  tell  me,  is  not  this  my  Cambio  ? 

Bian.  Cambio  is  changed  into  Lucentio. 

Luc.  Love  wrought  these  miracles.     Bianca's 
love 


Scene  i.       THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  135 

Made  me  exchange  my  state  with  Tranio, 

.While  he  did  bear  my  countenance  in  the 
town; 

And  happily  I  have  arrived  at  the  last 

Unto  the  wished  haven  of  my  bliss. 

What  Tranio  did,  myself  enforced  him  to ; 

Then  pardon  him,  sweet  father,  for  my 

sake. 
Fin.  I'll  slit  the  villain's  nose,  that  would  have 

sent  me  to  the  gaol. 
Bap.  But  do  you  hear,  sir?  have  you  married 

my   daughter   without   asking   my   good 

will? 
Vin.  Fear  not,  Baptista;   we  will  content  you, 

go  to:   but  I  will  in,  to  be  revenged  for 

this  villany.  [Exit. 

Bap.  And    I,    to    sound    the    depth    of    this 

knavery.  [Exit. 

Luc.  Look  not  pale,  Bianca;    thy  father  will 

not  frown.  [Exeunt  Lucentio  and  Bianca. 
Gre.  My  cake  is  dough :  but  I'll  in  among  the 
rest; 

Out  of  hope  of  all,  but  my  share  of  the 

feast.  [Exit. 

Kath.  Husband,  let's  follow,  to  see  the  end  of 

this  ado. 
Pet.  First  kiss  me,  Kate,  and  we  will. 


136  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         ActV. 

Kath.  What,  in  the  midst  of  the  street  ? 

Pet.  What,  art  thou  ashamed  of  me? 

Kath.  No,  sir,  God  forbid;  but  ashamed  to 

kiss. 
Pet.  Why,    then    let's    home   again.       Come, 

sirrah,  let's  away. 
Kath.  Nay,  I  will  give  thee  a  kiss:  now  pray 

thee,  love,  stay. 

Pet.  Is  not  this  well  ?  Come,  my  sweet  Kate : 
Better  once  than  never,  for  never  too  late. 

[Exeunt. 

SCENE  II. 

Padua.    Lucentio's  house. 

Enter  Baptista,  Vincentio,  Gremio,  the  Pedant, 
Lucentio,  Bianca,  Petruchio,  Katharina, 
Hortensio,  and  Widow,  Tranio,  Biondello, 
and  Grumio :  the  Servingmen  with  Tra- 
nio  bringing  in  a  banquet. 

Luc.  At  last,  though  long,  our  jarring  notes 

agree : 

And  time  it  is,  when  raging  war  is  done, 
To  smile  at  scapes  and  perils  overblown. 
My  fair  Bianca,  bid  my  father  welcome, 


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Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  137 

While  I  with  self-same  kindness  welcome 

thine. 

Brother  Petruchio,  sister  Katharina, 
And   thou,    Hortensio,    with    thy    loving 

widow, 
Feast  with  the  best,  and  welcome  to  my 

house : 

My  banquet  is  to  close  our  stomachs  up, 
After  our  great  good  cheer.     Pray  you, 

sit  down ; 

For  now  we  sit  to  chat,  as  well  as  eat. 
Pet.  Nothing  but  sit  and  sit,  and  eat  and  eat ! 
Bap.  Padua      affords      this      kindness,      son 

Petruchio. 

Pet.  Padua  affords  nothing  but  what  is  kind. 
Hor.  For  both  our  sakes,  I  would  that  word 

were  true. 
Pet.  Now,   for  my  life,   Hortensio  fears  his 

widow. 

Wid.  Then  never  trust  me,  if  I  be  afeard. 
Pet.  You  are  very  sensible,  and  yet  you  miss 

my  sense: 

I  mean,  Hortensio  is  afeard  of  you. 
Wid.  He    that    is    giddy    thinks    the    world 

turns  round. 
Pet.  Roundly  replied. 


138  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         ActV. 

Kath.  Mistress,  how  mean  you  that  ? 

Wid.  Thus  I  conceive  by  him. 

Pet.  Conceives  by  me!     How  likes  Hortensio 

that? 
Hor.  My  widow  says,  thus  she  conceives  her 

tale. 
Pet.  Very  well  mended.     Kiss  him  for  that, 

good  widow. 
Kath.  '  He  that  is  giddy  thinks  the  world  turns 

round :' 
I  pray  you,  tell  me  what  you  meant  by 

that. 
Wid.  Your  husband,  being  troubled   with  a 

shrew, 
Measures  my   husband's   sorrow  by  his 

woe: 

And  now  you  know  my  meaning. 
Kath.  A  very  mean  meaning. 
Wid.  Right,  I  mean  you. 

Kath.  And  I  am  mean,  indeed,  respecting  you. 
Pet.  To  her,  Kate ! 
Hor.  To  her,  widow ! 
Pet.  A  hundred  marks,  my  Kate  does  put  her 

down. 

Hor.  That's  my  office. 
Pet.  Spoke  like  an  officer :  ha'  to  thee,  lad. 

[Drinks  to  Hortensio. 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW,  139 

Bap.  How   likes    Gremio   these   quick-witted 

folks? 

Gre.  Believe  me,  sir,  they  butt  together  well. 
Bian.  Head,  and  butt!    an  hasty-witted  body 
Would  say  your  head  and  butt  were  head 

and  horn. 
Fin.  Ay,  mistress  bride,  hath  that  awaken'd 

you? 
Bian.  Ay,  but  not  frighted  me;   therefore  I'll 

sleep  again. 
Pet.  Nay,  that  you  shall  not :   since  you  have 

begun, 

Have  at  you  for  a  bitter  jest  or  two ! 
Bian.  Am  I  your  bird?     I  mean  to  shift  my 

bush; 
And  then  pursue  me  as  you  draw  your 

bow. 
You  are  welcome  all. 

[Exeunt  Bianco,,  Katharina,  and  Widow. 
Pet.  She  hath  prevented  me.     Here,  Signior 

Tranio, 
This  bird  you  aim'd  at,  though  you  hit  her 

not; 
Therefore  a  health  to  all  that  shot  and 

miss'd. 

Tra.  O,  sir,  Lucentio  slipp'd  me  like  his  grey- 
hound, 


140  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  V. 

Which  runs  himself,  and  catches  for  his 

master. 

Pet.  A  good  swift  simile,  but  something  cur- 
rish. 

Tra.  Tis  well,  sir,  that  you  hunted  for  your- 
self: 
Tis  thought  your  deer  does  hold  you  at 

a  bay. 

'Bap.  O  ho,  Petruchio !     Tranio  hits  you  now. 
Luc.  I  thank  thee  for  that  gird,  good  Tranio. 
Hor.  Confess,  confess,  hath  he  not  hit  you 

here? 
Pet.  A'  has  a  little  gall'd  me,  I  confess ; 

And,  as  the  jest  did  glance  away  from  me, 
'Tis  ten  to  one  it  maim'd  you  two  out- 
right. 
'Bap.  Now,  in  good  sadness,  son  Petruchio, 

I  think  thou  hast  the  veriest  shrew  of  all. 
Pet.  Well,  I  say  no :   and  therefore  for  assur- 
ance 

Let's  each  one  send  unto  his  wife : 
And  he  whose  wife  is  most  obedient, 
To  come  at  first  when  he  doth  send  for 

her, 

Shall  win  the  wager  which  we  will  pro- 
pose. 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  141 

Hor.  Content.     What  is  the  wager? 

Luc.  Twenty  crowns. 

Pet.  Twenty  crowns! 

I'll  venture  so  much  of  my  hawk  or  hound, 
But  twenty  times  so  much  upon  my  wife. 

Luc.  A  hundred  then. 

Hor.  Content. 

Pet.  A  match !  'tis  done. 

Hor.  Who  shall  begin? 

Luc.  That  will  I. 

Go,  Biondello,  bid  your  mistress  come  to 
me. 

Bion.  I  go.  \Exit. 

Bap.  Son,  I'll  be  your  half,  Bianca  comes. 

Luc.  I'll  have  no  halves ;  I'll  bear  it  all  myself. 

Re-enter  Biondello. 

How  now !  what  news  ? 
Bion.  Sir,  my  mistress  sends  you  word 

That  she  is  busy,  and  she  cannot  come ! 
Pet.  How !  she  is  busy,  and  she  cannot  come ! 

Is  that  an  answer? 
Gre.  Ay,  and  a  kind  one  too : 

Pray  God,  sir,  your  wife  send  you  not  a 

worse. 

Pet.  I  hope,  better. 
Hor.  Sirrah  Biondello,  go  and  entreat  my  wife 


142  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  V. 

To  come  to  me  forthwith.  [Exit  Biondello. 
Pet.  O,  ho !   entreat  her ! 

Nay,  then  she  must  needs  come. 
Hor.  I  am  afraid,  sir, 

Do  what  you  can,  yours  will  not  be  en- 
treated. 

Re-enter  Biondello. 

Now,  where's  my  wife? 
Bion.  She  says  you  have  some  goodly  jest  in 

hand: 
She  will  not  come ;   she  bids  you  come  to 

her. 
Pet.  Worse  and  worse;    she  will  not  come! 

O  vile, 

Intolerable,   not  to  be   endured ! 
Sirrah  Grumio,  go  to  your  mistress ; 
Say,  I  command  her  come  to  me. 

[Exit  Grumio. 
Hor.  I  know  her  answer. 
Pet.  What? 

Hor.  She  will  not. 

Pet.  The  fouler  fortune  mine,  and  there  an 

end. 

Bap.  Now,    by    my    holidame,    here    comes 
Katharina ! 

Re-enter  Katharina. 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  148 

Kath.  What  is  your  will,  sir,  that  you  send  for 

me? 
Pet.  Where  is  your  sister,   and  Hortensio's 

wife? 

Kath.  They  sit  conferring  by  the  parlour  fire. 
Pet.  Go,  fetch  them  hither:    if  they  deny  to 

come, 
Swinge  me  them  soundly  forth  unto  their 

husbands : 

Away,    I    say,    and    bring    them    hither 

straight.  [Exit  Katharina. 

Luc.  Here  is  a  wonder,  if  you  talk  of  a  wonder. 

Hor.  And  so  it  is :   I  wonder  what  it  bodes. 

Pet.  Marry,  peace  it  bodes,  and  love,  and  quiet 

life, 

An  awful  rule,  and  right  supremacy; 
And,  to  be  short,  what  not,  that's  sweet 

and  happy  ? 

Bap.  Now,  fair  befal  thee,  good  Petruchio! 
The  wager  thou  hast  won ;  and  I  will  add 
Unto  their  losses  twenty  thousand  crowns ; 
Another  dowry  to  another  daughter, 
For  she  is  changed,  as  she  had  never  been. 
Pet.  Nay,  I  will  win  my  wager  better  yet, 
And  show  more  sign  of  her  obedience, 
Her  new-built  virtue  and  obedience. 


144  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         ActV. 

See  where  she  comes  and  brings  your  fro- 

ward  wives 
As  prisoners  to  her  womanly  persuasion. 

Re-enter  Katharina,  with  Bianco,  and 
Widow. 

Katharine,  that  cap  of  yours  becomes  you 

not: 

Off  with  that  bauble,  throw  it  under-foot. 
Wid.  Lord,  let  me  never  have  a  cause  to  sigh, 

Till  I  be  brought  to  such  a  silly  pass ! 
Bian.  Fie,  what  a  foolish  duty  call  you  this  ? 
Luc.  I  would  your  duty  were  as  foolish  too : 
The  wisdom  of  your  duty,  fair  Bianca, 
Hath  cost  me  an  hundred  crowns  since 

supper-time. 
Bian.  The  more  fool  you,  for  laying  on  my 

duty. 

Pet.  Katharine,  I  charge  thee,  tell  these  head- 
strong women 
What  duty  they  do  owe  their  lords  and 

husbands. 
Wid.  Come,  come,  you're  mocking:    we  will 

have  no  telling. 

Pet.  Come  on,  I  say ;  and  first  begin  with  her. 
Wid.  She  shall  not. 
Pet.  I  say  she  shall:  and  first  begin  with  her. 


C! 
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Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  145 

Kath.  Fie,  fie !  unknit  that  threatening  unkind 

brow; 
And  dart  not  scornful  glances  from  those 

eyes. 

To  wound  thy  lord,  thy  king,  thy  gov- 
ernor : 
It  blots  thy  beauty  as  frosts  do  bite  the 

meads, 
Confounds  thy  fame  as  whirlwinds  shake 

fair  buds, 

And  in  no  sense  is  meet  or  amiable. 
A    woman    moved    is    like    a    fountain 

troubled, 
Muddy,    ill  -  seeming,    thick,    bereft    of 

beauty ; 

And  while  it  is  so,  none  so  dry  or  thirsty 
Will  deign  to  sip  or  touch  one  drop  of  it. 
Thy  husband  is  thy  lord,  thy  life,  thy 

keeper, 
Thy  head,  thy  sovereign;   one  that  cares 

for  thee, 
And   for   thy  maintenance   commits   his 

,    body 

To  painful  labour  both  by  sea  and  land, 
To  watch  the  night  in  storms,  the  day  in 

cold, 


146  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  V. 

Whilst  thou  liest  warm  at  home,  secure 

and  safe ; 

And  craves  no  other  tribute  at  thy  hands 
But  love,  fair  looks  and  true  obedience ; 
Too  little  payment  for  so  great  a  debt. 
Such  duty  as  the  subject  owes  the  prince 
Even  such  a  woman  oweth  to  her  hus- 
band; 
And  when  she  is  froward,  peevish,  sullen, 

sour, 

And  not  obedient  to  his  honest  will, 
What  is  she  but  a  foul  contending  rebel, 
And  graceless  traitor  to  her  loving  lord  ? 
I  am  ashamed  that  women  are  so  simple 
To  offer  war  where  they  should  kneel  for 

peace : 

Or  seek  for  rule,  supremacy  and  sway, 
When  they  are  bound  to  serve,  love  and 

obey. 
Why  are  our  bodies  soft  and  weak  and 

smooth, 

Unapt  to  toil  and  trouble  in  the  world, 
But   that   our   soft   conditions   and   our 

hearts 

Should  well  agree  with  our  external  parts  ? 
Come,    come,   you   froward   and   unable 

worms ! 


Scene  ii.      THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.  147 

My  mind  hath  been  as  big  as  one  of  yours, 
My  heart  as  great,  my  reason  haply  more, 
To  bandy  word  for  word  and  frown  for 

frown ; 

But  now  I  see  our  lances  are  but  straws, 
Our  strength  as  weak,  our  weakness  past 

compare, 
That  seeming  to  be  most  which  we  indeed 

least  are. 

Then  vail  your  stomachs,  for  it  is  no  boot, 
And  place  your  hands  below  your  hus- 
band's foot : 

In  token  of  which  duty,  if  he  please, 
My  hand  is  ready,  may  it  do  him  ease. 
Pet.  Why,  there's  a  wench!     Come  on,  and 

kiss  me,  Kate. 
Luc.  Well,  go  thy  ways,  old  lad;    for  thou 

shalt  ha'  't. 
Vin.  'Tis  a  good  hearing,  when  children  are 

toward. 
Luc.  But  a  harsh  hearing,  when  women  are 

froward. 
Pet.  Come,  Kate,  we'll  to  bed. 

We  three  are  married,  but  you  two  are 

sped. 
'Twas  I  won  the  wager,  though  you  hit 

the  white;  [To  Lucentio. 


148  THE  TAMING  OF  THE  SHREW.         Act  V. 

And,  being  a  winner,  God  give  you  good 
night ! 

[Exeunt  Petruchio  and  Katharina. 
Hor.  Now,  go  thy  ways;   thou  hast  tamed  a 

curst  shrew. 

Luc.  'Tis  a  wonder,  by  your  leave,  she  will  be 
tamed  so.  [Exeunt. 


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